The day after India celebrated its Olympic medalists at the Paris 2024 closing ceremony, Aman Dhall, an Indian entrepreneur, strategic investor, and table tennis player, launched a five-year scholarship in memory of his late father, Virendra Kumar Dhall, at Loughborough University.

Valued at GBP 12,500, the scholarship supports Indian students at Loughborough who compete internationally or aspire to represent India in sports. The Virendra Kumar Dhall Scholarship for Sporting Excellence aims to empower young Indian athletes facing financial and other challenges. Eligible students include those enrolled at Loughborough University at any academic level.

The scholarship provides up to £2,500 annually to cover essential costs related to high-level sports training and competition, including travel, equipment, coaching, and other necessary resources.

Loughborough University, known for training sporting icons like Neeraj Chopra and Adam Peaty, has been a hub for international sports talent. Aman Dhall, who completed his MSc in Sport Management at Loughborough in 2010-11, established the scholarship to honor his father’s dream of seeing him represent India. Having faced financial challenges in his own sporting career, Dhall is committed to supporting the next generation of Indian athletes.

Nick Jennings, Vice Chancellor of Loughborough University, praised the initiative, emphasizing the university’s commitment to excelling in sport and creating opportunities for global athletes. Aman Dhall, who played for Loughborough’s Table Tennis Team, expressed that the scholarship is a tribute to his father’s belief in his potential and hopes it will help other Indian athletes overcome similar obstacles.

Loughborough University, with a rich history of Olympic success, finished with 16 medals at the Paris 2024 Olympics and would have ranked 16th in the overall medal table if classified as a country.

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