To discover sporting talent in the country and nurture champions of futurewith world-class facilities, India’s first-ever integrated school for sports and academics, The Sports School (TSS) on Friday launched a 2021-22 NationalScholarship Program.
The Sports School’s 2021-22 National Scholarship Program will be awarded to close to 60 eligible students who will receive the scholarship across four sports—cricket, football, tennis and basketball.
The announcement was made on Friday during a virtual press conference in the presence of champion athletes and The Sports School partners – Rohan Bopanna, top Indian tennis star, world-cup wining cricketer Robin Uthappa along with Mandar Tamhane, CEO of India’s top football club JSW Bengaluru FC and partner for The Sports School Football Academy. John Mahesh Rao, head coach of The Sports School Basketball Academy and TSS Director Dr Sankar UV were also present during the launch.
“Today sports are not just played as a hobby but it is now looked at as career option too. With a sports-driven academic curriculum we believe students find the balance between sports and study. And this scholarship program will give us an opportunity to discover sporting talent from every corner of the country who, with the help of the champion mentors, can be groomed to become the future heroes and represent India as well as are equipped with an academic career to back them,” Dr Sankar UV, Director of The Sports School said at the launch.
The scholarship program will be offered to students in the age category of U-12, U-14 and U-16 on basis of their potential in the sport. The candidates will be evaluated based on their attitude, aptitude, commitment, sporting achievements and their performance in the trials, to be held in the month of January and based on the evaluation, the scholarships will range in between 25% to 100%covering sports training and academics fees. The final list of scholarships will be drawn under the watchful eyes of the champion mentors and TSS administration.
“I’m glad that this scholarship program will be a great opportunity to reach out to the talented kids who give up on their dreams of a tennis career due to lack of financial support and opportunities. With this scholarship I believe the players, who have AITA ranking and want to pursue the sport at the highest level, will get the right training and guidance along with quality education,”said the Asian Games gold medallist, Bopanna, who is also the chief mentor of TSS and founder of Rohan Bopanna TSS Tennis Academy.
The 27-acre campus in Bengaluru is equipped with sporting facilities of international standards. The School started in 2019 and have already won the confidence of the fraternity with their unique approach towards education. In 2020, FICCI recognised them with the Best Education Institute Promoting Sports, thereby endorsing this holistic yet customised pursuit towards sporting excellence and uncompromised academic approach.