India’s doubles Tennis star and Grand Slam winner, Rohan Bopanna launched a scholarship programme for 60 kids. The scholarship is worth INR 10 lakhs annually, which covers tennis and academic education simultaneously. 

The scholarship project would function through a collaboration between Rohan Bopanna Tennis Academy and The Sports School. The Sports School would be the base of its training centre in Bengaluru. 

“I am looking at giving kids what I did not have when I was a junior player. It will be a game-changer in Indian tennis. Parents are always worried about the education part, so we are proving both,” Bopanna said during the online press conference.

https://www.facebook.com/thesportsschool/photos/a.1227007000796885/1603499449814303/?type=3

Initially, kids in the categories- U 12, U 16, and U18 can apply for the scholarship through the School website. Later, they will be assessed after the lockdown and selected for the residential programme. 

 

The programme, described as a ‘game-changer in Indian tennis’, would initially take only AITA ranked players in the first year. It is one of a kind scholarship that will take 20 kids in each category with 100% support. 

 

Balachandran Manikkath, coach of India’s top singles player, Prajnesh Gunneswaran, will be the head coach along with six other coaches. 

 

The selected kids will be provided with top training services like seven flood-lit hard courts, along with nutritionists, dieticians, physio, and sports psychologists. 

 

Bopanna clarified that he is not competing with anyone when asked about setting an example on doing things without the help of the government. The AITA has been trying to set up a centre of excellence for some years but no results have been shown up. 

 

This opportunity is not only for the kids selected but also for other kids who can apply by paying a certain amount. Dr. Sankar UV, the Director of The Sports School said that the kids not selected can join in by paying a certain fee which is 6.25 lakh for beginners, 8 lakhs for intermediate level, and 10 lakhs for advance level. 

 

The school would follow CBSE syllabus up to 10th standard and Karnataka State Board syllabus for 11th and 12th standard. The Sports School also runs similar programmes in Badminton, Football, and Basketball.

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