These Commonwealth Games 2026 athletes are earning degrees while chasing medals

As many as 14 Indian athletes competing in boxing, cycling and weightlifting are balancing international competition with online higher education.Olympic and Commonwealth champion Saikhom Mirabai Chanu has won gold in the women's 48 kg weightlifting event. Weightlifters Rishikanta Singh and M Raja also secured silver medals (Image: Amity)As India's athletes compete for medals at the Commonwealth Games 2026, several of them are also working towards another milestone off the field — completing a college degree. 14 Indian athletes representing the country in boxing, cycling and weightlifting are currently enrolled in online programmes.This, according to the university, reflects a growing trend of sportspersons turning to flexible learning to continue their education alongside rigorous training and international competitions.Among them is Olympic and Commonwealth champion Saikhom Mirabai Chanu, who won gold in the women's 48 kg weightlifting event. Weightlifters Rishikanta Singh and M Raja also secured silver medals in the men's 60 kg and 65 kg categories, respectively.Unlike conventional classroom programmes, online courses allow athletes to attend lectures, complete assignments and appear for assessments around their training schedules, national camps and overseas competitions. The 14 athletes are pursuing bachelor's degrees, MBA programmes and Sports Psychology courses through Amity University Online.AthleteSport/EventProgrammeSaikhom Mirabai ChanuWeightlifting (Women's 48 kg)Sports PsychologyRishikanta SinghWeightlifting (Men's 60 kg)Sports PsychologyM RajaWeightlifting (Men's 65 kg)Sports PsychologyLovepreet SinghWeightliftingSports PsychologySeram Nirupama DeviWeightliftingSports PsychologyMartina DeviWeightliftingSports PsychologyDavid Beckham ElkatohchoongoCyclingSports PsychologyRojit Singh YanglemCyclingSports PsychologySekhon Harshveer SinghCyclingSports PsychologyAditya Pratap YadavBoxing (Men's 65 kg)BAKapil PokhariyaBoxingMBAJaismine LamboriaBoxing (Women's 57 kg)MBAArundhati ChoudharyBoxing (Women's 70 kg)BASakshi ChaudharyBoxing (Women's 51 kg)MBAAccording to the University, the athletes are supported through its CHAMPS (Celebrating Heroes with Amity Merit Program) initiative, which offers academic flexibility and scholarships for sportspersons pursuing higher education alongside their competitive careers.The development reflects a broader shift in Indian sport, where athletes are increasingly planning for careers beyond active competition. With online learning becoming more widely accepted, many sportspersons are choosing to build academic qualifications without stepping away from elite sport.- EndsPublished By: Mridusmita DekaPublished On: Jul 30, 2026 15:09 IST