Adam Gilchrist announces next India's Bradman scholarship cricketer

Adam Gilchrist

New Delhi, 31st October 2014: Champion Australian cricketer Adam Gilchrist introduced the second recipient of the annual Bradman Scholarship for a talented Indian cricketer to study at the University of Wollongong (UOW) in Australia at a special media conference

This year’s winner is Alankrit Jangid, of Jaipur. Alankrit was a talented junior cricketer who represented his school and the state of Rajasthan at national schools level as a wicketkeeper and opening batsman.

He decided to give up his dream of being a professional cricketer for an equally passionate dream - to study at a leading international university – choosing the Bachelor of Business degree at the University of Wollongong in Australia.

He has just completed his first year of study in Wollongong, and decided to apply for the Bradman Scholarship for 2015. Now, with the financial assistance of the scholarship, he is looking forward to being able to combine study with playing cricket in Wollongong next year.

“The UOW Bradman Scholarship has come at a fateful time in my life,” he said. “It will give me the opportunity to reconnect with the sport that I love. Given my financial constraints I have not had opportunities to play cricket in Australia, especially at a competitive level. This scholarship will allow me to fill that vacuum in my life.”

The first UOW Bradman Scholarship recipient, Mohammed Shuja Ahmed Khan from Hyderabad, is now studying a four-year Bachelor of Civil Engineering degree in Wollongong.

Gilchrist launched the UOW Bradman Scholarship in his role as UOW’s Brand Ambassador to India.

The scholarship, named in honour of the world’s greatest-ever cricketer, Sir Donald Bradman, is for an Indian student to study in Australia at UOW. The University has combined with the Bradman Foundation, a charitable trust established in 1987 with the blessing of Sir Donald Bradman to promote cricket as a cultural and sporting force, to offer its first international scholarship for undergraduate study at one of Australia’s leading universities.

The scholarship was established to be awarded to an Indian student – male or female - who has completed secondary school and who demonstrates a combination of academic, sporting, personal and social skills, as well as strong participation in cricket.

“Sir Donald Bradman left an enduring legacy to the game of cricket with his incredible achievements, and Indian cricket fans understand that as well as anyone,” Gilchrist said. “Sir Donald, through the establishment of the Foundation that bears his name, also had a vision that through education and the advancement of youth, cricket could be strengthened and advanced.

“The University of Wollongong Bradman Foundation Scholarship was established to provide that opportunity for educational advancement of a young Indian person, and I am extremely proud to be involved,” he said.

“Mohammed has been an excellent inaugural scholarship recipient, and I am sure that Alankrit will also be a credit to the program.”

Gilchrist is currently on an annual visit to India to talk to Indian corporations interested in establishing an Australian presence at UOW’s Innovation Campus. He has been joined by UOW Vice-Chancellor, Professor Paul Wellings CBE and The Honorable John Ajaka MLC, New South Wales Minister for Ageing, Disability Services and Minister for the Illawarra.

Gilchrist, the former wicket-keeper batsman, who captained Australia to a 2-1 Test series win over India in 2004, was inducted into the Sport Australia’s Hall of Fame in October 2012.

UOW Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Wellings CBE said the UOW Bradman Scholarship was an indication of the growing strength of the University’s ties with India, as well as with the Bradman Foundation.

“This is an extremely important initiative from the University’s point of view,” Professor Wellings said. “It gives us a chance to help fulfil Sir Donald’s vision for the advancement of youth and cricket while also offering a great opportunity for an Indian student to come to Australia to study at our university and become involved in the Bradman Foundation.”

Mr Ajaka welcomed having Alankrit as an Illawarra scholar and sporting elitist.

“The opportunity to study in Wollongong is fantastic for Alankrit and I wish him great success in his studies,” Mr Ajaka said.

“It was my honour to be here today to help announce him as the second recipient of the UOW Bradman Scholarship.”

Bradman Foundation Executive Director Rina Hore said the Foundation was delighted to welcome Alankrit as the second scholarship recipient.

“The Bradman Foundation was established to promote cricket as a valuable cultural and social force in the community, and this scholarship fulfils that objective,” Ms Hore said.