Govt widens insurance cover for sports personnel

The government has decided to widen its medical insurance cover for sports persons by increasing the number of beneficiary athletes and including contractual coaches and support staff from this year in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Sports Authority of India (SAI) says that with this decision, the coverage would increase to more than 13,000 athletes, coaches and support staff, according to a report by Press Trust of India.

Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju said the well-being of athletes, coaches and support staff are his ministry's priority and the decision is in line with that objective.

The insurance cover for each person is INR500,000 ($6,845). The health insurance also provides cover of INR2.5m for accident or death coverage. Previously, the coverage was limited to the duration of national sports camps but now it has been extended to throughout the year as coronavirus continues to wreak havoc in the country.

"Earlier an athlete or a coach was covered only during a national camp or national and international event but this move will now ensure coverage for the entire year, which means on and off the field," an official said.

SAI has asked the National Sporting Federations (NSFs) to identify athletes and support staff for inclusion in the insurance scheme. Data of those covered under this insurance scheme will be stored in the National Sports Repository System for transparency and easy access.

Source: Asia insurance review