Indian basketball players have a new opportunity to secure institutional support, with Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) announcing a nationwide Sports Scholarship Scheme.
A total of 125 scholarships are up for grabs across 19 sporting disciplines, including basketball, football, hockey, cricket, chess, golf, and more.
For basketball specifically, ONGC has listed nine scholarships exclusively for men, across playing positions: Point Guard, Shooting Guard, Small Forward, Power Forward, and Center.
Who can apply?
The scholarship is open to Indian citizens between the ages of 18 and 30. Players born between September 1, 1996, and September 1, 2008, are eligible to apply.
Applicants must also meet the following criteria:
The annual income of the player’s parents must not exceed ₹30 lakh.
The player should not currently be employed.
The player should not already be receiving a scholarship, stipend, or contract from a Central or State Government, Public Sector Enterprise, foundation, or private organization.
Participants from the most recent Olympic Games and Asian Games will also be considered.
The scholarship will initially be awarded for one year and can be extended annually for up to three years based on the athlete’s performance.
Basketball Scholarship Selection
For team sports such as basketball, selection will be based on a combination of sporting achievements and selection trials.
ONGC will evaluate players using a performance-based scoring matrix covering achievements at the Olympic Games, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, World Championships, international tournaments, Senior National Championships, Federation Cups, National Games, and other recognized competitions.
Only one of the athlete’s best performances or achievements will be considered for evaluation.
The final selection will be made through game trials that will be conducted in Delhi/NCR or at another venue decided by ONGC’s Corporate Sports Division.
In case two applicants finish at the same level on the evaluation criteria, preference will be given to the older athlete. If a tie still remains, the decision of the selection committee will be final.
How to apply
Applications will be accepted only online through ONGC’s official Sports Scholarship portal.
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