Chennai, Aug 3:Indian Institute of Technology Madras and SBI Foundation have launched Phase 2 of their Para-Athlete Sports Scholarship Programme, expanding the initiative to support 80 para-athletes across eight Paralympic disciplines.
Each selected athlete will receive a monthly scholarship stipend of INR 40,000 for one year, in addition to sports science-based performance assessments, sports nutrition guidance and personalised support aimed at improving competitive performance.
The programme will support an equal number of men and women – 40 male and 40 female para-athletes – across archery, athletics, badminton, judo, powerlifting, shooting, swimming and taekwondo.
Indian para-athletes up to 35 years who have represented their State and/or India in recognised national or international competitions are eligible to apply, subject to the programme’s selection criteria and submission of the required supporting documents.
The expansion follows strong outcomes of Phase 1, launched in 2025 with 26 para-athletes. During the first year, athletes from the inaugural cohort collectively won 70 medals in national and international competitions – 32 gold, 22 silver and 16 bronze medals.
Phase 2 will strengthen India’s para-sports ecosystem by combining sustained financial assistance with scientific performance support. It will provide assistance to promising athletes, boost their competitive capabilities and build towards major national and international events, including the Paralympic Games.
Speaking about this initiative, Prof. Mohanasankar Sivaprakasam, Head, Acrophase, the Centre of Excellence for Human Performance at IIT Madras which is spearheading this initiative, said,
“At IIT Madras, we believe that excellence in sport must be accessible to every athlete, regardless of their circumstances. Phase 2 of this programme — expanding to 80 para-athletes across eight disciplines — reflects our deepening commitment to inclusion and equity in Indian sports. Through Acrophase, our Centre of Excellence for Human Performance, we are bringing world-class sports science directly to athletes who have long deserved it. From biomechanical assessments to personalised nutrition guidance, we are building an ecosystem where science serves every athlete. This is not just a scholarship — it is a long-term investment in India’s para-sports future.”
Mr. Swapan Dhar, Managing Director, SBI Foundation, said,
“SBI Foundation, in partnership with IIT Madras, is launching Phase 2 of the Para‑Athletic Sports Scholarship to further strengthen India’s sports ecosystem. Phase 1 was a great success, with several para‑athletes winning medals at national and international events. At the current Glasgow Commonwealth Games, our scholar Mr. Jhandu Kumar won India’s first medal in para‑athletics. Through Phase 2, SBI Foundation will support para‑athletes as they prepare for upcoming global competitions, including the Asian Games and the Los Angeles Paralympic Games.”
IIT Madras will implement the scholarship programme end-to-end, including establishing the technology infrastructure for applications, receiving applications from across India, evaluating candidates and making final selection recommendations, as well as providing continued support to selected athletes over the one-year scholarship period.
SCIENCE-BASED PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT
A key feature of the programme is that support extends beyond the scholarship stipend. Acrophase will undertake sports science-based performance assessments to help athletes identify areas for improvement and optimise their preparation for competitions.
Further, the athletes will also receive sports nutrition guidance throughout the one-year programme. This will help fine-tune their nutrition strategies with their training and competition requirements. The team will provide additional performance-related support that may arise during athletes’ preparation for competitions.