Fulton, @ ₹21.7 lakh/month, highest paid foreign coach in Oly sports

DING by the sports ministry's response in the Rajya Sabha, Craig Fulton is the highest-paid foreign coach engaged by the National Sports Federation.

- DRANEEL DAS

Fulton, the sports ministry revealed while replying to a query on engagement of foreign coaches, draws an amount of Euro 24,286 (₹21.7 lakh) a month. The head coach of the women's team has been drawing the salary since April 26, 2023 and his contract runs until December 31, 2028, after the Los Angeles Olympics. As for the expenditure incurred, the ministry says, "The National Sports Federations (NSFs) are allowed to hire foreign experts on their own within the budget allocated by the Government."

The South African's contract was extended after India's bronze medal at the Paris Olympics. Interestingly, Fulton draws double the amount any other foreign coach engaged in the country draws. Fulton's predecessor Graham Reid was getting US$15,000 per month.

Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandviya was responding to a query by Rajya Sabha MP Anil Kumar Yadav Mandadi on December 5. While it is not clear since when Fulton has been drawing this amount, it is understood this could be after the Paris Olympics.