GAIL launches India’s biggest athletics talent hunt GAIL: The Fastest Indian
Hunt for the next Milkha to identify and develop Olympic-level sprinters
Ambitious project to scout and support talent in India for 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games
Talent hunt amongst children across 19 Cities and 20 Events
New Delhi, September 22, 2014: Aiming to identify Olympics medal winners in Athletics, GAIL (India) Limited today launched the first edition of India’s most ambitious sports talent hunt, “GAIL:The Fastest Indian”, in association with Spoment. Legendary athlete ‘Padmashree’ Milkha Singh, himself, is the mentor of the talent hunt, which will identify, groom and develop champions keeping in mind 2020 Tokyo Olympics and herald a new era in the Indian Athletics. The talent hunt is aimed at finding next Milkha of India and will be conducted across 19 cities reaching over 3,000 schools in the age group of 12 to 14 years.
The event is spread into finding best talents in 100 metre, 200 metre and 400 metre race for both, boys and girls. Winners from their respective cities would be competing to become “GAIL:The Fastest Indian” on December 14, 2014 at Bengaluru in the finals, where one boy and one girl from each category will be selected. GAIL (India) Limited, India’s No. 1 Natural Gas company and a Maharatna PSU, is the principal partner of the event being organized by Spoment, a global sports, media and entertainment company.
Winners of the finals of “GAIL:The Fastest Indian” would be trained by renowned national and international sports trainers, where they would get specialized training needed to compete at the international events. The winners will also be given complete scholarship up till their post-graduation so that their focus would continue to remain on medal winning and not have to ne worry about the future.
Speaking on the occasion, ‘The Flying Sikh’ Shri Milkha Singh said, “I am very happy that GAIL and Spoment have taken this initiative. This project is the need of the hour. It will help find many more Milkha’s from the length and breadth of this country.”
GAIL’s Director HR Shri M. Ravindran said, “GAIL is a brand associated with energy, youthfulness and growth. The company’s lean and nimble workforce has worked hard to make it the country’s fastest growing Maharatna company in 30 short years. Association with the search for the fastest Indian thus comes naturally for GAIL. Athletics as a sport is a true test of human endurance, redefining the limits we set on ourselves. We are sure that a country of a billion plus has a lot of extraordinary talent that is untapped. What is required is a little help and little faith. We hope to be that help.”
According to Shri Darshan M, Director, Spoment, “GAIL-The Fastest Indian is much more than a talent hunt, it’s a dream for Indian sports. It is an ambitious attempt to discover, groom and develop an Indian Olympic level athlete. The project would achieve its goal even if few of the kids from this search go on to represent India at the international sports arena.” While the first edition of “GAIL-The Fastest Indian” will cover 19 cities, it will be expanded over time to reach all 800 districts of the country, thus becoming the world’s largest ever athletics talent competition.
The organizers have tied up with the School Games Federation of India to popularize the event and ensure participation by the maximum number of talented children. The other partners who are making this dream possible include IFIM Business School which is providing scholarships, Manipal Hospitals, Sports Keeda, Chroma, Fox Mandal, ICONGO, rightticket.in, CII YI and UNIBIC.
The cities where the event will be held and the dates are given below. The exact venues will be announced in due course.
The cities where the event will be held and the dates are given below. The exact venues will be announced in due course. |
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34 Comments
Agreed with your view point that we need a lot more. But this was just the starting where we had around 8000 children participating. This year’s selected 6 will be trained by national and international coaches. In years to come the pool will definitely increase and quite possible that the participation will also see a rise.
The Mumbai selection happened on 21 Nov,2014 at the University Sports ground, Kalina Campus, University of Mumbai, Santa Cruz (east), Mumbai. It was also well covered by the media.
How surprising! no update given to the registered people. and Selecting only couple of kids to represent INdia is not going to help.. we need in hundreds … so that a few will be qualified till the final stage.. when were mumbai selections done?
the finals have taken place and 6 kids are being chosen who will be trained by national and international coaches. follow this space to get more info
What us the next step taken by GAIL after the registration is done? IRS been months and we haven’t received any update from them…more than six months have passed ..
muje ek chans do sir plise me dod sakta hu par muje koi aage le nahi ja raha plise sir ek chans do plise sir
see the schedule at http://www.thefastestindian.in and go to the nearest venue to compete with others
You may go to the website https://www.thefastestindian.in/ and give your contact details to get registered
May I know how would an aspirant apply to this program?
Great hopes and beginning for the aspiring Indian athletes.
Congratulations to GAIL for such initiative.
I’d suggest if you can make two age groups for the selection and training.
10-12 years and 12-14 years; as we approach 2020 Olympics- the kids who are 10 year old today, would be also eligible by then. and younger you train, better results they will produce.
great initiative. How do we register for it ??
Its a great initiative by gail. Very much appreaciable. It will definitely give a Next Milkha Singh to India. The poor and the neglected childrens will be benefitted from this initiative.
VERY GOOD INITATIVE taken up by GAIL…FEEL PROUD OF THIS EVENT Apart from normal children the special children sholud also be given a chance to prove themself.
Great initiative by GAIL.one of the best feelings of Gail Management. It is the best opportunity to the poor hidden talented young Indians .
JAI HIND ” GAIL”
Excellent. The fastest growing company of India will search the fastest Indian. Thanks to GAIL for such a wonderful initiative.
Thrilling initiative for the benefit and grooming of vast young talented athletes of India. It is a hallmark of nation building. A champion’s move to build champions. There is no doubg! Images of the Company will also become at zenith.
K. K. Nair
Quite Challenging to conduct such a talent hunt task covering the whole nation.This will create a win win situation to all the stakeholders involved.Sports other than cricket are emerging starting from Badminton,Hockey,Kabbadi,football and now a segement of athletics Kudos……..100 metres race is special of all events as its HIGH Speed and High Torque event.
VERY GOOD INITATIVE taken up by GAIL…FEEL PROUD OF THIS EVENT….
Good gesture for Indian sports……………..
Very well taken Initiative.
Great Initiative………..
Great initiative by GAIL
one of the best feelings of Gail Management . It is the best opportunity to the poor hidden talented young Indians .
a good way of fulfilling their CSR . . . proud of u GAIL !!! 🙂
respected sir please give a chance to gail employee, criteria wise selection and provide coaching only two years find out better result .prove it.
gail india ltd
Wonderful Initiative. The next job is to spread the message, so that the best and most deserving come forward.
JAI HIND
Just Great !!!!!!!!!!!! better late than never……….PSUs like GAIL must contribute in raising the sports level in country, It is an welcome initiative which must not limited to urban areas as actual talent will be somewhere in INDIA’s rural area.
A very welcome initiative for the benefit and grooming of vast young talented and poor athletes of India, a hallmark of nation building side by side building of company images also. A champion’s move to build champions.
Great initiative by GAIL for hidden talent……. who are just waiting for someone to guide them towards the winning path. My Best wishes!!
IT IS A COMMENDABLE INITIATIVE. THIS A TIME WHEN WE REALLY NEED A CLEAN AND YOUNG CORPORATE LIKE GAIL TO THINK AND COME FORWARD FOR THE CAUSE OF SPORTSPERSONS. I AM SURE, SOMETHING GOOD WILL EMERGE OUT OF THIS INITIATIVE. KEEP IT UP ‘GAIL’.
The Great Indian sporting legend Milkha Singh shows the way to identify the fastest Indian. GAIL has taken up his dream to identify the same.
We Salute him for his support and guidance… Lets get our fastest Indian… Amen
Kudos! Very welcome initiative. How could GAIL, the youngest and fasted growing company lag behind others? All the best wishes.
Great intiaitve by GAIL in the field of sports. This will definitely add value to brand image of GAIL and will encourage the talented sports person to achieve their dreams.
YUVARAJ
MANAGER( R&D)
GAIL
excellent initiative, eagerly looking forward to see this spark getting converted into fire.
Nice Initiative