Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Sept 2: Former under-14 and under-16 state tennis champion Avilash Mishra has managed to bag a 100 per cent tennis scholarship at the Prairie State University in Chicago. Avilash, who is currently in Mumbai will leave Saturday and will join the university September 5. A student of SAI International School, Avilash achieved an impressive 94% in his plus-2 exams. Coupled with his tennis skills, the marks scored by Manoj Kumar Mishra and Nirupama Rath’s son enabled him to get admission to the Chicago institute.
Avilash has a current international ranking of 1,085 in the under-18 segment. In the ATP tournament played at Hyderabad in August 29, he entered the second round. He is ranked 40th at the national level.
Avilash is excited about the chance he has got. “I came to know about the opportunity from my friend Adarsh Sahoo, who joined the same university last year. I applied and they selected me,” stated an elated Avilash.
Avilash will get an annual tennis scholarship of 10,000 dollars from the University. The varsity will also take care of his tuition fees and all other expenses. “I will get more exposure and get the opportunity to play inter-
college matches there,” Avilash informed. “The standard is very high and it will help me improve my game. My aim is to play in the ATP men’s circuit.”
Avilash also thanked coaches Subhranshu Sarangi and Farhan Ali for his success. “I got the basics from Subhransu sir at a very tender age. Then I joined Farhan Ali Academy as there were better players. Farhan sir inspired me to dream big,” Avilash added.
