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AIFF's government funding slashed by half as Sports Ministry awards massive hike to yoga

Football has been among the biggest losers in Indian sport when it comes to receiving government funding, its allocation coming down to Rs 8.78 crore from Rs 15 crore in 2022-23 and Rs 30 crore in 2019-20. Yoga, on the other hand, has received a hike of nearly 400 per cent from the sports ministry. While Indian football has been among the biggest losers in terms of government funding, yoga has received a major push. PTI Yoga emerged the biggest beneficiary of the Government of India's allocation of budget for various sports, receiving a hike of nearly 400 per cent compared to what it was receiving in 2022-23. Football, a sport that is perceived to be in a state of crisis in the cricket-mad nation, were in for another blow with their financial assistance slashed by half. Sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya revealed the figures during the ongoing monsoon session of the parliament, responding to a question from BJP MP Sadanand Tanavade in the Rajya Sabha. Besides yoga and football, table tennis received a 50 per cent hike while athletics received a minor reduction in their assistance. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Yogasana India had been receiving Rs 1.3 crore in 2022-23, but are now set to receive Rs 4.89 crore – which is close to the Rs 5.2 crore that has been set aside for the All India Chess Federation. At the same time, it will be getting a higher share of the government funding pie compared to basketball (Rs 4.75 crore in 2024-25), volleyball (Rs 4.39 crore) and squash (Rs 4.45 crore). 'As a federation, we started getting funding very recently from the government. Unlike many other sports that have come to India from abroad, we are taking India's heritage to the world. For that, we need to do substantial work,' Yogasana India president Udit Sheth was quoted by The Indian Express as saying. The Kalyan Chaubey-led All India Football Federation – which currently finds itself mired in crisis over the fate of the Indian Super League – witnessed its government funding reduced by nearly half from Rs 15 crore in 2022-23 to Rs 8.78 crore in 2024-25. This is, after all, the same sport that used to receive Rs 30 crore from the Centre not too long ago (2019-20). Athletics and boxing have had minor reductions as well. The allocation for the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) currently stands at Rs 26 crore from Rs 30 crore in 2022-23 while the corresponding figure for the Boxing Federation of India stands at Rs 22 crore from Rs 24 crore in 2022-23. Yoga is a demonstration sport at next year's Asian Games in Japan and will also likely be included in the 2030 Commonwealth Games should India win the hosting rights for the event. The push in the yoga budget might have been made keeping this events in mind.