Blackburn midfielder Millie Chandarana, right, is the recipient of the first South Asians in Football Leadership Scholarship
In November Blackburn announced the 27-year-old was the recipient of the first South Asians in Football Leadership Scholarship, with the club saying at the time that she was the only British South Asian player with a professional contract in the Women’s Championship.Asked about being a role model, Chandarana told the PA news agency: “It’s definitely something I embrace because I know the importance of it, because I didn’t really have a role model growing up as such.
The scholarship has been founded by University Campus of Football Business and the Global Institute of Sport , along with journalist Dev Trehan, with the aim of promoting and supporting the growth of British South Asians in the game.It sees Chandarana being mentored by Trehan as she studies for an MSc in Football Business at GIS Manchester Campus, and taking the GIS’ Inclusive Leadership in Football Award course.
The update said while the number of professional players of Asian heritage remains low, there had been an increase in grassroots female Asian participation , from 15.4 per cent in 2022 to 17.5.A lack of diversity in the women’s game has been a considerable talking point in recent years, and developments have included the FA making talent pathway changes and access to football for girls in schools being boosted.
“With all the strategies, plans are being put in place for the future, which is great. I’m optimistic about it and I hope within 10 years there’s a lot more South Asian girls playing in the Championship and WSL .”