The first edition of 'GAIL-The Fastest Indian', India's most ambitious sports talent hunt with an aim to identify Olympic medal winners in Athletics, today reached its crescendo in the presence of Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan, Padma Shri Milkha Singh, GAIL Chairman and Managing Director B C Tripathi and other dignitaries.
The grand finale of the event, which has traversed through 19 cities across the country from Guwahati to Ahmedabad, Kochi to Chandigarh, was held today at The Thyagaraj Sports Complex, Delhi.
A total number of three boys and three girls in different categories emerged as winners out of the 48 participants in GAIL - TFI finals. During the league stage, the GAIL-TFI engaged over 5,000 boys and girls in the age group of 12-14 years across the country in last 4 months.
The winners will now be groomed with an aim of making them next "Milkha of India" and securing medals for the country in 2020 Tokyo Olympics. They will be provided specialized training from renowned national and international sports trainers as well as complete scholarship up to post-graduation. Besides, Flying Sikh of India, Shri Milkha Singh, who is also the principal mentor of the event, will be providing his valuable guidance to the winners.
Commenting on the event, Pradhan said, "I'm very happy to be associated with GAIL-The Fastest Indian event. Talent in our country is raw and has to be refined. GAIL's quest to identify the fastest Indian has unearthed untapped resources of talent across the country and I compliment the company for the initiative. Our best wishes with the winners of the event and hope that they will win medals and laurels for the country in coming years, including a medal in 2020 Tokyo Olympics."
Milkha Singh, principal mentor of the event, said, "GAIL - The Fastest Indian has now reached its ultimate destination, I am very happy that we now have Talented Young Athletes who will be thoroughly trained and groomed for the Tokyo Olympic 2020. This project was the need of the hour; it has helped in finding many bright talents from the length and breadth of this country.