Introduction:

Sports Authority of India Scholarships are being recognised by the Sports Authority of India, established in the year 1984 by the Government of India, as a prime and very crucial body to coordinate various different sports activities. Increasing sports consciousness and zest generated in India following the spectacular show of the ninth Asian Games at Delhi had much to do with the creation of the SAI which was responsible for maintaining and using the sports infrastructure created for the Games.

Over the years, the Sports Authority of India enhanced its operations to develop broad base sports. The combining of outstanding academic institutions of National Institute of Sports, Patiala and the Lakshmibai National College of Physical Education, Thiruvananthapuram in the year 1987 gave the SAI an opportunity to play a wider role in the development of sporting activities in the country. Today, the Sports Authority of India plays mentor to hundreds of young sportsmen across India, enriching them with different training facilities, advanced infrastructure, scholarships as well as coaching facilities.

Details of the scholarships:

Sports Authority of India Scholarships can be divided under the heads stated below: State Level Scholarships-State Level Scholarships are 150 per state and 100 per Union Territory in number. The value of each scholarship is Rs. 6600/-per year. National Level Scholarships-All eligible sports persons under this category will be considered for the award of scholarships. The value of each National level scholarship is Rs. 8400/-per year. Scholarship for College/University Students-The value of this scholarship is Rs. 10, 200/-per year. Only regular bonafide students of a recognized college/university studying in classes above 10 + 2 are eligible for scholarship. Special Scholarships for Women-Special Scholarships for Women are available to Women National champions (50), Women doing MPhil/PHD In Physical Education (10), Women doing NIS Diploma in Sports Coaching (20). The values of such scholarships are Rs. 18000, Rs. 10000 and Rs. 7500 per year respectively.

Eligibility Criteria:

• The scholarships will be given to those performers in recognized competitions held in previous calendar year.
• Does not take up any job.
• A scholarship holder shall not receive any other sports scholarship from any other source and should not be inmate of sports hostel of SAI / State Govt. In case the scholarship holder is already in receipt of any such award / facility, he/she will have to surrender that in order to avail himself/herself of the benefits of this scholarship. A selected candidate may however, enjoy merit scholarship for studies other than sports scholarship and /or fee concession if given by the school in which he/she studies.
• The applicant shall apply only in one discipline in which he/she has achieved highest performance between the previous calendar year
• If the dates of competitions or timing/ distance/height/weight/ points etc. achieved are not mentioned in the certificate, the applicant may obtain the same from concerned agency & enclose the same to the application failing which the application will NOT be considered.
• The scholarship awarded under the scheme will be of one year duration and will be renewable from year to year provided the awardees improving/maintaining the proficiency in game concerned, passing last annual examination and fulfilling other eligibility conditions. However, one failure in studies can be condoned in the entire duration of his/her scholarship.
• The student should submit a new application on prescribed proforma for the renewal of scholarship every year failing which it will be stopped even if one is eligible.
• The head of school/college/department will certify the correctness of contents of application filled in by the candidate. The form should then be forwarded through proper channel to The Executive Director (A), SAI Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports, Moti Bagh, Patiala-147001.

Selection and Age Limit:

A duly constituted Selection Committee look over all the applications and choose candidates for the Sports Authority of India Scholarships, based on the performance and merit. However, The decision of the Committee will be final and abiding and no correspondence in this regard will be entertained. For State as well as National Level Scholarships, 18 years is the age limit. For Women National champions, the upper age limit is 19 years.

Centre for Excellence Scheme (COE):

As a natural corollary to the Sub Junior, Junior Schemes, the scheme of COE envisaged induction of talents in India who have shown promising performance in the National Competition beyond the above age groups for further training at the Regional Centers of SAI for nearly 200 days in a year. They are provided with the state of art facilities, equipment, and scientific back up along with the specialized training. COE operates as the regular coaching camp for the best available talents in India and to provide 2 to 3 concurrent layer of highly talented sports persons giving Choice of talents and continuity for later selection to National Teams and provide alternative second as well as third options for the National Teams. The Sports persons who are in the main six position holders in the Sr. National Level Competition or Junior National Level Sports persons who are at the brim of entering the Senior Level and also found to have the potential of exceling in the International Competition are admitted into the Center of Excellence. The trainees are preferably in the age group of 16 to 21 years. Those trainees who continue to perform to the desired level of expectation at the National and International level will be covered under the scheme despite any age. Employed trainees are also admitted under the scheme and are provided the same facilities as others trainees. Athletics, Badminton, Football, Gymnastics and Table Tennis disciplines are looked at SAI, Eastern Centre, Kolkata.

Selection Process:

There will be a duly constituted Selection Committee to scrutinize the applications and select candidates for these scholarships on the basis of performance and merit. The decision of the Committee will be final and abiding and no correspondence in this regard will be entertained. The payments of scholarship will be made through the Regional Centres of the SAI and the head of the Institution in which the awardees studies.

The sports disciplines covered under the scheme for scholarships are:

Priority Disciplines Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Boxing, Cycling, Football, Gymnastics, Handball, Hockey, Judo, Kabaddi, Kho-kho, Tennis, Shooting, Swimming, Table Tennis, Volleyball, Weight lifting, Wrestling.Other Disciplines – Ball Badminton, Baseball, Billiards&Snookers, Bowing, Carrom, Chess, Cricket, Equestrian, Fencing, Golf, Kayaking& Canoeing, Karate, Power lifting, Rowing, Softball, Squash, Teakwood, Wushu, Yachting.

Read details at:  https://cbseportal.com/Scholarship/Sports-Scholarships-Sports-Authority-of-India-SAI-NSNIS