With the elusive track and field Olympic medal in mind, National Yuva Cooperative Society and Gas Authority of India Limited launched a grassroots athletics project in the capital on Tuesday.
With the elusive track and field Olympic medal in mind, National Yuva Cooperative Society and Gas Authority of India Limited launched a grassroots athletics project in the capital on Tuesday.
Piloted by athletics legend P.T. Usha, the Gail-Indian Speed Star project will focus on training athletes in the 11 to 17 age group in the 100, 200 and 800 metres events all over the country. District-level trials have already been conducted in Coorg, Ahmedabad, Guwahati, Ranchi and Gorakhpur among other places. More than 25,000 candidates have taken part in the trials out of whom, around 6,500 have been selected for state trials.
The project will conclude with the national trials, slated to be held in Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in the capital in May.
The top nine athletes at the national trials would be provided with world class training facilities, said Maneesh Bahuguna, chief executive of Anglian Medal Hunt Company, a sports management firm which has been roped in as the technical partner.
Usha, who heads the selection panel which includes Rachita Mistry, Anuradha Biswal and Kavita Raut, is happy with the initiative, which was a distant dream during her days as an athlete.
“Grassroot activities not only encourage athletes who are deprived of basic amenities but, also give them a platform to showcase their talent,” she said.
