The Sports Ministry has sanctioned an amount of Rs 9 lakh to badminton star Saina Nehwal for hiring a full time physiotherapist till 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

The sanctioned money is for a period of 15 months, starting this month. Saina, the London Olympics bronze medallist, has been selected under Target Olympic Podium (TOP) Scheme for financial assistance from National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) for Olympic 2016.

The financial assistance from NSDF approved for the Physiotherapist, is out of the contribution made by the India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited (IIFCL), under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, to the Target Olympic Podium Scheme under the NSDF.