J&K Lawn Tennis Assn flags off ten players selected for Rohan Bopanna Academy
Jammu, May 23 (UNI) In a noble gesture to give wings to the raw talent, Jammu and Kashmir Lawn Tennis Association on Friday flagged off ten players selected under "Bhoomi" Programme to the Rohan Bopanna Tennis Academy, Bangalore.
In a function here, Jammu and Kashmir Lawn Tennis Association honoured ten children (five boys and five girls) for having been selected by Rohan Bopanna Foundation at Bangalore for
"Bhoomi Scholarship Programme".
"Under Bhoomi Programme, the selected players will receive free boarding, lodging, schooling (ICSE) and a comprehensive Tennis training at the Academy," R S Chib, former J&K Sports Minister, who happens to be Patron of the Jammu and Kashmir Lawn Tennis Association here told reporters.
He also congratulated the players and thanked Indian Tennis legend Rohan Bopanna for this unique initiative.
The selected children are Raguvansh Rajput, Vivek Dogra, Raghubir Singh, Prince Kumar, Arjun Kumar, Rupali Sharma, Arti Chulail, Priya Sharma, Diksha Devi and Gungun.
"The players will also be accompanied by two wardens – Sachin Singh and Renu Bala for boys and girls respectively who will ensure their safe travel and care at Bangalore," Murti Gupta, Association President said.
He said that these children will receive training in a very scientific and refined way to prevent injury and optimize physical performance including video analysis and feedback.
The Jammu and Kashmir Lawn Tennis Association along with patron and former minister R S Chib presented travelling kits to these children and stressed upon them to work hard and keep the flag of Jammu and Kashmir Lawn Tennis Association and J&K UT flying high.
"Rohan Bopanna Foundation was instructed by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to help underprivileged children from North East and J&K which was further followed by Governor Manoj Sinha," B S Jaggi, General Secretary JKLTA said.
The Academy with coaches from abroad and in collaboration with J&K Sports Council and JKLTA officials in February this year, held a detailed selection process where more than 100 children volunteered out of which 10 were selected gauging their physical and mental capabilities.
J&K Lawn Tennis Association expressed gratitude towards Rohan Bopanna Foundation, J&K Sports Minister Satish Sharma, Sarmad Hafeez Commissioner Secretary, J&K Youth Services and Sports Department and Secretary J&K Sports Council Nuzhat Gul for their unflinching and continuous support for revival of Tennis in Jammu and Kashmir.
Pertinent to mention here that Rohan Bopanna during his visit to Jammu for selection trials under Bhoomi Programme had said that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi suggested him to visit to the Jammu and Kashmir so that talented kids can be benefitted under 'Bhoomi' program for underprivileged and that made the 'Rohan Bopanna Tennis Academy'.
Under 'Bhoomi' program supported by Kamal India Foundation, UK, selected kids between the age group of 8 to 11 years and they are to be provided free boarding and lodging, free education (CBSE syllabus up to 10th standard), comprehensive tennis training at the Sports School in Bengaluru (home to the Rohan Bopanna Tennis Academy), and free air tickets to their hometowns during vacations.
Bopanna during his J&K visit also called on Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and briefed him about his endeavour to nurture and shape the young talent of Jammu Kashmir and provide them sporting and educational opportunities at his tennis academy in Bengaluru under the programme for empowering children from underprivileged sections, a collaborative initiative by Rohan Bopanna Tennis Academy and Kamal India Foundation.
The Lieutenant Governor appreciated the ace Tennis Player for his noble initiative to empower the children belonging to underprivileged sections of the society through sports and education.
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