Bhubaneswar: After a series of trials across the country, the grand finale of GAIL Indian Speedstar Season II culminated at Thyagaraj Sports Complex, New Delhi. Selected 7 athletes, who will now be trained to compete for international athletic events including the Olympic Games 2020 and 2024. This grass root athletics program started with 1,13,478 aspirants initially, after district & zonal trials the qualified atheletes were selected for the national camp.
Hon’ble Minister of Human Resource Development Shri Prakash Javadekar was the Chief Guest at the event which was also graced by Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Youth Affairs and Sports & Minister of State, Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Shri Vijay Goel and Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Petroleum and Natural Gas Shri Dharmendra Pradhan.
Chairman & Managing Director, GAIL (India), Shri B C Tripathi and National Selection Committee members that includes legendary Ms P. T. Usha, Shri Sriram Singh Shekhawat, Olympians Ms Rachita Mistry, Ms Anuradha Biswal and Asian and Commonwealth Games medalist, Ms Kavita Raut were also present on the occasion. The GAIL Indian Speedstar is being conducted by National Yuva Co-operative Society Limited and Anglian Medal Hunt Company.
Shri Prakash Javadekar Honorable Minister of Human Resource Development, Government of India said, “I am enthused to get a glimpse of these young talent who have come from different parts of the country for the grand finale of GAIL Indian Raftaar. My congratulations to GAIL for organizing this unique talent search program which has seen massive participation. I am sure these selected athletes will win and make the country proud.”
Shri Vijay Goel, Minister of State (Independent Charge) Youth Affairs and Sports & Minister of State, Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Government of India said, “My congratulations to GAIL India for successfully conducting this pan India unique talent search program. We are always in search of talent and initiatives like this boost our endeavor to search / unearth more and more talent across different sporting discipline.”
Speaking at the occasion, PT Usha said, “I am happy to be associated with GAIL Raftaar since the inaugural season, the initiative is providing support to young athletes in the under 14 and under 16 categories. This is a welcome move by GAIL in a sport where support is generally available only at the senior level or when one begins winning medals. Looking at the level of talents available and the coaching and support facilities that are being made available to athletes, I am hopeful that our country will win a medal in athletic by the 2024 Olympics.”
Shri PK Gupta, Director HR, GAIL (India) Ltd. said, “Olympic gold in track and field is the dream of every Indian. We at GAIL feel privileged to groom and support the athletes through GAIL Indian Speedstar at the grass root level in their quest to fulfil this dream. It will be a golden moment for the uscountry if these young athletes are able to achieve this long cherished dream of an Olympic medal.”
GAIL Indian Speedstar is an initiative of GAIL (India) Limited to promote athletics as a sports in India. It is a national talent search program to identify & groom future stars for Olympics 2020 and 2024 in track initiatives. This program aims to spot, screen, select and groom young athletes in the age group of 11-17 years in 100m, 200m and 800m track events across the country. This initiative in its 2nd year kick-started earlier this year with initial trials conducted at 107 districts in which 1,13,478 children participated out of which 118 children finally made it to the State level Camp and Selection.
For more information on Gail-Indian Speedstar please visit http://www.gailindianspeedstar.org/
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