Staff Reporter
CHIMPU, Dec 5: Selection for the third season of ‘GAIL Indian Speed Star’, a pan-India athletic talent scouting for the Summer Olympics 2020 and 2024, organized by the Gas India Limited (GAIL India) Ltd under its CSR initiative, will be held at Sangay Lhaden Sports Academy Ground here from December 10 next.
This was informed by the National Yuva Cooperative Society’s (NYCS) State Representative-cum-Programme Coordinator, Gyamar Kassung in a press conference held at the press club here on Tuesday.
Kassung informed that the NYCS is the organizing partner of ‘GAIL Indian Speed Star’, the objective of which is to spot, screen, select and nurture young talented athletes for 100, 200 and 400 metres track events across the country, in the age categories of 11-14 years and 15-17 years for both boys and girls.
“It will be a preparatory grassroots talent hunting, targeted for the 2020 and 2024 Olympics,” he said.
“The NYCS executed this project in two seasons. During the first season held in 2015-2016 in ten states covering 53 districts in a three tier selection format over 26,000 young athletes participated. In the second season, the district trials were held at 107 locations with participation of 1, 13,000 athletes from across India. The grand finale for Season-II culminated in a national camp-cum-selection in New Delhi on May 10 last, which was attended by Minister of HRD Prakash Javdekar, Minister of State (I/C) for Youth Affairs and Sports, Vjjay Goel, Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Dharmendra Pradhan and North East Delhi MP Manoj Tiwar,” he added.
He also informed that 14 athletes have been selected till now, who will be nurtured by expert coaches till-2020 Olympics.
“The NYCS scouted 300 young talents from the state last year; we aim to reach 600 new talents next year,” Kassung said.
