Recently, 12 players of international eminence were appointed by the Ministry as National Observers for the first time for the development of sports.
National Sports Observers includes: Beijing Olympic gold medallist shooter Abhinav Bindra, P T Usha and Anju Bobby George (athletics), Sanjeev Kumar Singh (archery), Aparna Popat (badminton), MC Mary Kom and Akhil Kumar (boxing), Jagbir Singh (hockey), Somdev Devvarman (tennis), Karnam Malleshwari (weightlifting), Sushil Kumar (wrestling), I M Vijayan (football), Khajan Singh (swimming) and Kamlesh Mehta (table tennis).
As per that order the following is the responsibility assigned to Sports Observers:
1. To observe selection of national teams and to suggest measures for further strengthening free and transparent selection.
2. To assess the existing sports infrastructure/ equipment, quality of scientific backup and medical facilities at the venues of the national coaching camps and report the critical gaps.
3. To observe, analyse, review and report on the performance of Indian and foreign coaches and the progress of performances of the campers.
4. To maintain data base on the performance profile of individual athletes as well as coaches and to assist the performance of national team in the international tournaments and suggest training needs of athletes including foreign training and competition exposure with special focus on sub junior and junior level athletes.
5. To examine complaints from players and other stakeholder by taking up the matter with the NSF concerned for redressal and send a report to the Ministry.
6. To assist NSFs/National Sports promotion Organisations/ SAI in preparation and finalization of ACTC and
7. To accompany the National Team for international exposure as may be required.
The National Observers will assist the Government, Sports Authority of India, and National Sports Federations (NSFs) concerned including Indian Olympic Association in the preparation and implementation of the long term development plan with respect to high priority and priority sports covering all aspects including selection policy, quality specifications for National Camps, long term athlete development plan, coaching development, development of technical officials and monitoring & evaluation of athlete performance.
Apart from providing inputs for their respective disciplines, the National Observers would also to be consulted as a group on crosscutting issues impacting sports development in the country.
National Observers would be playing a key role in implementation of action plans for Mission Olympics 2020, 2024 and 2028.