Virendra Kumar Dhall Scholarship For Sporting Excellence Launched For Next Generation Indian Athletes At Loughborough University

New Delhi: In a remarkable gesture to support the next generation of Indian athletes, Indian entrepreneur and sports management professional Aman Dhall has announced the establishment of a five-year scholarship at the prestigious Loughborough University. The scholarship, valued at GBP 12,500, is dedicated to the memory of Dhall’s late father, Virendra Kumar Dhall, and aims to assist Indian students who are either competing at the international level or are on track to represent India in their respective sports.

Announced a day after the Paris 2024 Olympics closing ceremony, where India celebrated its iconic medalists like Neeraj Chopra, Manu Bhaker, and PR Sreejesh, the Virendra Kumar Dhall Scholarship for Sporting Excellence is designed to empower young Indian athletes facing financial and other obstacles in their pursuit of sporting excellence. The scholarship is available to students enrolled at Loughborough University at the undergraduate, postgraduate, or Ph.D. level, whether studying part-time or full-time.

The annual scholarship, which will provide up to £2,500 per year, aims to help athlete scholars cover essential costs associated with training and competing in high-level sporting events. These expenses include travel for trials, equipment, coaching, nutritional advice, gym memberships, and other necessary resources for performance sports.

Loughborough University has a strong history of nurturing sports talent, having been a training ground for India’s youth sporting icon, Neeraj Chopra, and home to several international sporting icons, including Lord Sebastian Coe, Adam Peaty OBE, and Paula Radcliffe MBE. This new scholarship further cements the university’s commitment to excellence in sports.

Aman Dhall, who completed his MSc in Sport Management at Loughborough University in 2010-11, established this scholarship to honor his father’s dream of seeing him play for India. Dhall faced significant financial challenges early in his sporting career, which hindered his ability to pursue professional sports full-time. Inspired by his own experiences, Dhall is dedicated to supporting the next generation of Indian athletes through this initiative.

Reflecting on the scholarship, Aman Dhall said, “This scholarship is a tribute to my father, who always believed in my potential to represent India. By providing this support, I hope to help talented Indian athletes overcome the obstacles that I once faced, so they can achieve their dreams.”

Nick Jennings, Vice Chancellor of Loughborough University, expressed his support for the initiative, stating, “We seek to welcome exciting talent from across the world to benefit from the outstanding performance sport programmes we have here at Loughborough University, and this new scholarship for sporting excellence will ensure that young Indian athletes are empowered to do so.”

The scholarship also acknowledges that athletes often require funding from various sources to train at the highest level, imposing no restrictions on those already holding other scholarships.

Dhall, who played for the Loughborough University Table Tennis Team and Leicestershire County during his time in the UK, recently fulfilled his long-held dream of representing India at the ITTF World Masters Table Tennis Championship 2024 in Rome in the 40+ age category. His experience and passion for empowering young Indian athletes make this scholarship a significant contribution to India’s sporting future.

Loughborough University, which finished with a total of four gold, four silver, and eight bronze medals at the Paris 2024 Olympics, continues to be a powerhouse in global sports. With more than 240 Loughborough University and Loughborough College alumni having competed at the Olympic and Paralympic Games since 1948, this new scholarship will undoubtedly help maintain the institution’s legacy of sporting excellence.