New Delhi, Nov 13: The Indian Olympic Association and the federations might be against it but the National Sports Bill has got a collective thumbs up from India's top athletes, who feel the draft has the potential to drastically change the country's sports scene.

Welcoming provisions like the one seeking a 25 per cent quota for athletes in all National Sports Federations (NSFs), current and former stars such as badminton ace Saina Nehwal, her coach Pullela Gopichand, golfer Jeev Milkha Singh and Olympic bronze-medallist boxer Vijender Singh hoped that the document would get the cabinet's nod.

The bill was rejected earlier by the cabinet with ministers, who have stakes in various federations, asking Sports Minister Ajay Maken to rework the draft.

The contentious points in the bill included the provision on bring NSFs under the RTI ambit and limiting the age and tenure of office-bearers.

Saina said the NSFs should take the bill as a positive step towards improving the state of affairs in Indian sports.

"All National Sports Federations should take the Sports Bill in a positive sense. It places sports and sportspersons as a priority which can only be good for Indian sports," Saina told PTI.

Jeev and legendary sprinter PT Usha felt the bill will make the sports scene in India more professional.

"For far too long we have accepted mediocrity in Indian sports. The Sports Bill will make National Sports Federations proactive and professional in their approach. With sportsmen themselves at the helm of affairs, there is bound to be knowledgable leadership and increased sense of responsibility. We all must support the Bill," he said.

"For so may decades, the main frustration has been inefficiency of the National Sports Federations. I believe that the Sports Bill will make a very positive change to this," added legendary sprinter PT Usha.

Former All England champion Gopichand, who is busy grooming shuttlers as national coach now, said he backs the bill as it seeks to increase athletes' participation in the administration of sports.

"This new bill is something which is good for sports, especially for athletes. The 25 per cent representation of sportspersons in the national federations, I think that it is a good move, to have athletes' participation in decision-making is good. So overall, I support this bill," Gopichand told PTI.

Ace boxer Vijender echoed the view, saying the bill will empower athletes.

"I have gone through it, it's a very good bill. I hope it is passed soon. The provision that I like the most in it is 25 per cent quota for athletes in all sports federations," said the World Championship bronze-medallist.

"The provision of bringing federations under RTI is also good, the BCCI should accept it. Hopefully, it will bring transparency in sports," he added, referring to Indian Cricket Board's refusal to come under the RTI ambit.

Sprint legend Milkha Singh called the bill a bold step towards a better future for Indian sports.

"I congratulate Makenji (Sports Minister) for introducing this bill and I hope it gets through the Cabinet and the Parliament. This is a bold step but I can see it will be a difficult job as many National Sports Federations have presidents and secretaries who are ministers and MPs and they are influential," he said.

"I remember Margaret Alva issuing a letter that presidents of NSFs should not have more than two terms and IAS and IPS officers should take Home Ministry permission before contesting NSF elections. All these failed. I was in that committee of sports ministry 35 years back," he added.

PTI