Amity University Online and Hockey India sign MoU to transform lives of athletes

ANI May 20, 2025 227 views

Amity University Online and Hockey India have joined forces to provide scholarships and flexible education for hockey players. The initiative includes a free sports psychology course to enhance mental performance. Indian Women’s Hockey Captain Salima Tete and defender Jyoti are among the first beneficiaries. This partnership sets a new standard for athlete development in India.

"Education has always been a dream I had to set aside to pursue hockey. With this scholarship, I can now continue my education without compromising my training." – Salima Tete
Noida, May 20: In a landmark development that promises to reshape the future of Indian athletes, Amity University Online (AUO) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hockey India to provide comprehensive educational opportunities to hockey players at the international, national, and state levels.

Key Points

1

Amity University Online offers 100% scholarships to Hockey India players

2

Includes free sports psychology course for mental conditioning

3

Indian Women’s Hockey Captain Salima Tete among first beneficiaries

4

First-of-its-kind initiative for holistic athlete development

This collaboration is a powerful step forward in supporting the holistic growth of sportspersons by enabling them to pursue higher education without compromising their sporting careers, as per the Hockey India press release.

Through this strategic partnership, Amity University Online will offer a robust educational scholarship program designed specifically for athletes. The initiative recognises the challenges players face in balancing sports with academic aspirations and aims to create a supportive environment where both goals can be pursued simultaneously.

Along with offering athletes up to 100 % scholarship via the CHAMPS initiative (Celebrating Heroes with Amity Merit Program Scholarships), Amity University Online provides free access to a three-month Certificate Course in Sports Psychology to enhance their mental conditioning and performance.

The MoU was signed by Bhola Nath Singh, Secretary General, Hockey India, and Ajit Chauhan, Chairman of Amity University Online, in the presence of Sekar J Manoharan, Treasurer, Hockey India, along with senior official at Amity University in Noida.

The event also marked the formal enrollment of Indian Women's Hockey Team Captain Salima Tete and defender Jyoti into Amity University Online's Sociology and MBA Marketing programmes, respectively, making them the first two beneficiaries of this visionary collaboration.

Speaking at the ceremony, Salima Tete said, as quoted by the press release, "Education has always been a dream I had to set aside to pursue hockey. With this scholarship and Amity University Online's flexible online programs, I can now continue my education without compromising my training schedule or match commitments. This opportunity means everything to me and will inspire many young players who believe they must choose between education and sports."

Jyoti echoed her sentiments and added, "The online format makes it possible to study around our rigorous training schedules. I'm excited to begin this educational journey alongside my hockey career, knowing that both will strengthen my future."

On this auspicious occasion, Ajit Chauhan, Chairman, Amity University Online, said, "At Amity University Online, we have always believed in education as a powerful tool for transformation, and we remain at the forefront of noble initiatives that bring quality learning to deserving individuals. We are truly proud to offer these talented and dedicated athletes an opportunity to shape their futures beyond the ground. This initiative is not just about academics, it's about empowering athletes to thrive both on and off the field. For many underprivileged players, this could be a life-changing stage, and Amity University Online is honoured to make that difference."

Commenting on the initiative, Bhola Nath, Secretary General of Hockey India, said, "This partnership represents our vision for the complete development of hockey players. Many of our athletes, particularly from the women's team, have had to interrupt their education after the 12th standard due to intensive training demands. Now they can pursue both dreams simultaneously."

Women's head coach Harendra Singh praised the initiative as life-changing, where he said, "This program creates a bridge between sports excellence and academic achievement. Many of our women players come from humble backgrounds where continuing education seemed impossible alongside their sporting commitments. Now they have a pathway to success in both areas."

The scholarship program is open to active Hockey India players at the district, state, national, and international levels. Eligible program options include Bachelor of Commerce (B. Com), Bachelor of Science (BSc), Master of Business Administration (MBA), and numerous other undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.

This pioneering initiative by Hockey India marks the first time a national sports federation has established such a comprehensive educational support system for athletes at all competitive levels, setting a new standard for holistic athlete development in Indian sports.

Reader Comments

R
Rahul K.
This is such a progressive step! Indian athletes often sacrifice education for sports. Salima Tete's words really touched me - now young players won't have to choose between studies and sports. More universities should follow Amity's lead 👏
P
Priya M.
As someone from Jharkhand where hockey is so popular, I've seen many talented girls drop out after 12th. This initiative could change lives in tribal areas too! But will there be regional language support for players from rural backgrounds?
A
Amit S.
Great move but implementation is key. Online education requires good internet - hope Amity provides offline study materials for players in remote training camps. Also, will there be career guidance post-retirement?
N
Neha R.
Finally! Our women hockey players deserve this and more 💛 The sports psychology course is brilliant - mental strength is half the battle won. Hope to see similar tie-ups for other sports like kabaddi and wrestling too!
V
Vikram J.
While this is commendable, I hope the quality of online education matches campus standards. Some private universities treat online courses as side business. Hockey India must ensure proper monitoring of academic outcomes.
S
Sunita P.
My daughter plays state-level hockey in Odisha. This news gives me hope that she won't have to give up her BA dreams! 🙏 The CHAMPS scholarship name is so fitting - our players truly are heroes who deserve this support.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Your email won't be published


Disclaimer: Comments here reflect the author's views alone. Insulting or using offensive language against individuals, communities, religion, or the nation is illegal.

Tags: