The Unsung Ones Behind India's Olympic Heroes

"Our focus was on three key aspects - selecting the best talent, monitoring their growth and finally fund their requirements. Selecting the right athletes is the essence of our venture and we choose them in a scientific way after a thorough research," Padukone told IANS.

The MCT has 38 athletes on its roster while the OGQ has 32 from various Olympics disciplines.

Founded in 2001, the OGQ has experts, who systematically monitor the progress of athletes and provide them the best coaching and scientific training facilities. Their nutrition and diet are also taken care of.

"Different players have different requirements and they themselves know what they need. We just provide the funds so that they can avail the best of the facilities without any red tape," said Padukone, adding that the OGQ has spent nearly 8 crore so far on the athletes.

OGQ - backed among others by Bajaj Group, one of whose directors Neeraj Bajaj is a former table tennis international - will raise 7 crore every year for the next four years. It is also looking ahead to train athletes in their early teens keeping 2020 as goal.

Acknowledging the contribution of MCT and OGQ, sports minister Ajay Maken has made a public appeal to major business houses to join hands with the government in raising the standards of sport in the country.

Both OGQ and MCT send sportspersons overseas for training and hire foreign coaches and trainers and also provide them world class equipment. They also make sure the athletes get the right kind of international exposure to reach the "next level" of their performance.

"Our mission is to harness India's sporting talent and create an empowering environment for athletes with the support and guidance required to get on to the Olympic podium," MCT chief executive officer (CEO) Manisha Malhotra told IANS.

With "Talent is born, Champions are bred" as its motto, the MCT was born at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

The London Games may surely have finished but for the OGQ and MCT, the journey goes on.

"From now on it is Mission Rio (Rio de Janeiro). Our goal is securing at least 20 medals in 2020," said Malhotra.

The sportspersons, who have been receiving monetary benefit from the MCT or the OGQ are determined to show their gratitude with medal-winning performances.

"I am very thankful to the MCT for all its support. I owe my success to it. From world class training facilities to getting the latest equipment, they did everything for me," shooter Joydeep Karmakar, who narrowly missed a bronze medal in London, told IANS.