Rochdale boxer Muavia Nasim secures National Lottery funding

Muavia Nasim, Queensway ABC v Tommy Robberts, Repton Gym

Boxer Muavia Nasim, 16, of Rochdale, is one of the first athletes to have been awarded a slice of £5.5 million of new National Lottery funding, as part of a bid to level the playing field in top-level sport.

SportsAid, the charity which helps the next generation of British sports stars by giving them financial support and recognition during the critical early stages of their careers, is delivering the scheme – the first of its kind in this country.

In its first year, athletes from over 30 different sporting disciplines, including, athletics, boxing, table tennis, goalball and swimming, have secured awards.

They must have demonstrated outstanding ability to be eligible for the bursary. However, they must also show that, because of their family's financial situation, they might not get the opportunity to fulfil their potential without it.

The four-year scheme was launched after a new study, carried out by Leeds Beckett University, showed the rising cost of becoming a sports star has led to some of England’s best up-and-coming talent dropping out.

It’s also supported by SportsAid research which revealed that parents of talented athletes may have to outlay as much as £27,000 a year to help their child pursue their sporting ambition.

Backing The Best is designed to help families of the next Bradley Wiggins, Jessica Ennis-Hill or Ellie Simmonds who might feel competitive sport is out of their financial reach.