Nottingham offers scholarships for elite Chinese athletes

Deng Yaping at Chevening dinner
19 Nov 2013 07:11:25.547

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Elite Chinese table tennis players have the opportunity to study at a leading UK university, thanks to a new University of Nottingham scholarship.

Talented students can now apply for a Deng Yaping sports scholarship, in honour of the legendary Chinese table tennis champion and Nottingham graduate.

Former Olympic champion Deng Yaping won a string of sporting accolades during her table tennis career and is considered one of the greatest players in the history of the sport.
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The scholarships not only offer elite Chinese athletes financial support to study at The University of Nottingham, but the opportunity to combine an international education with sporting opportunities across Europe.

Professor David Greenaway, Vice-Chancellor at The University of Nottingham, said: “The University of Nottingham launched these scholarships for two reasons: first, to honour our graduate Deng Yaping, a woman whose colossal achievements are an inspiration to all of us; second, to offer new opportunities for academic high fliers who want also to be high achievers in table tennis, to do both at our University.”

Applicants should be Chinese Nationals with a high national or international ranking in table tennis. Successful applicants will have free access to all sports facilities and other sport-related services within the University.

Dr Deng, a Master’s graduate of The University of Nottingham, retired from the sport in 1997 and received an honorary doctorate at The University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC) this year. She is committed to helping nurture young sporting talent and using education to support athletes after the end of their sporting career.

She said, “The opportunity of studying in the UK will help recipients achieve a wealth of knowledge, become more familiar with international rules and understand different cultures. Since they already possess good psychological qualities and indomitable will, once they have the opportunities to receive higher education, they can be very successful in many industries. I believe they will make most of their opportunities studying at The University of Nottingham and strengthen the links between China and the rest of the world.”

For more information or to apply for a scholarship, visit The University of Nottingham’s sport department website

The University of Nottingham has a long-standing association with China, since it opened its campus in Ningbo in 2004, becoming the first Sino-foreign university in the country. The University has over 7,300 alumni based in China.

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Notes to editors: The University of Nottinghamhas 43,000 students and is ‘the nearest Britain has to a truly global university, with campuses in China and Malaysia modelled on a headquarters that is among the most attractive in Britain’ (Times Good University Guide 2014). It is also the most popular university among graduate employers, the world’s greenest university, and winner of the Times Higher Education Award for ‘Outstanding Contribution to Sustainable Development’. It is ranked in the World's Top 75 universities by the QS World University Rankings.

Impact: The Nottingham Campaign, its biggest-ever fundraising campaign, is delivering the University’s vision to change lives, tackle global issues and shape the future. More news…

Story credits

More information is available from Nigel Mayglothling, Assistant Director of Sport at nigel.mayglothling@nottingham.ac.uk
EmmaLowry

Emma Lowry - Media Relations Manager

Email: emma.lowry@nottingham.ac.uk  Phone: +44 (0)115 846 7156  Location: University Park

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