GAIL (India) Limited has embarked on a grassroots athletics program GAIL – Indian Speedstar for unearthing young talent from across India. GAIL (India) Limited and National Yuva Cooperative Society (NYCS), launched a grassroots athletics program GAIL Indian Speedstar on the 22nd of March, 2016 at the Constitution Club of India, New Delhi.
National Yuva Cooperative Society has tied up with Anglian Medal Hunt Company as its technical partner for the GAIL Indian Speedstar project. This grassroots program aims to create a pool of talented athletes who can possibly bring honor for India in track events at the highest level of sporting events – the Olympics 2020/2024.
The reason to launch this program is to identify, select and nurture the hidden talent in athletes. The targeted age group is 11 – 17 years in 100m, 200m and 800m track events across.
A panel of eminent sports persons like P.T Usha, Rachita Mistry, Anuradha Biswal & Kavita Raut are part of the selection committee to find the talent and guide them during coaching camps. As members of the selection committee their role includes creating the selection criteria for the GAIL-Indian Speedstar program, and developing the training plan and module for the selected athletes at the National Level.
‘Legendary athlete P.T. Usha launched the initiative along with the organizers Dr. Ashutosh Karnatak, Director (Projects), GAIL (India) Ltd, Rajesh Pande – President, National Yuva Cooperative Society Ltd (NYCS) and Maneesh Bahuguna- CEO, Anglian Medal Hunt Company.
Under the watchful eyes of the coaches and selectors several athletes were put through the paces at district trials. The selection of the athletes was based on talent identification and selection criteria set by the selection committee.
Earlier this year with initial trials conducted at 55 districts across 10 states in which more than 25,000 children participated out of which 850 children made it to the State level.
In the presence of Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Hon. Minister of State (I/C) Petroleum and Natural Gas, Dutee Chand, Anuradha Biswal and Purnima Hembram; selected ambitious young athletes from Bhubaneswar, Odisha. 14 children have qualified for the National level trials. Shri Dharmendra Pradhan ji, praised and motivated the selected candidates for National level trials.
Camp and Selection.
The first state level camp and trial was organized on 27-28th of February in Sawai Maan Singh Stadium, Jaipur where 60 boys and girls participated out of which 4 have qualified for the next level. The state trials were held in Odisha (14 selected), Delhi (28 selected)), Kerala (28 selected)) & Jharkhand (4 selected)) followed by Maharashtra and Gujarat in the last week of April. The shortlisted children from the State trials will then participate in the national selection camp which is scheduled to be held in May 2016 at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi.
Shortlisted athletes from state trials will attend an intensive national level camp. At the conclusion of the coaching camp, final trials will be held. Winners will be selected based on the qualification criteria and their potential. The winners will be given extensive training throughout the year. The top 9 athletes will then be provided with a world class coaching for over a period of 5 years with an ultimate objective of one of these athletes to represent India at the Olympics.
For more information on Gail-Indian Speedstar please visit http://www.gailindianspeedstar.org. You can follow the project on Facebook and Twitter at @Indianspeedstar.
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