Lal Singh for picking up unexplored sports talent in rural areas

‘Proper identification, selection can bring-out talented sportspersons from JK’

5 Dariya News

Kathua 18-Dec-2016

Minister for Forest, Environment and Ecology, Choudhary Lal Singh on Sunday said the Government is aiming to spot the young talent while they are displaying their sporting qualities.Speaking at the launch of GAIL India Limited and National Yuva Cooperative Society (NYCS) grassroots-level athletics program, the minister said it was a proud movement for the State to showcase the talent of such youth at national and international levels.Mr Singh presented certificates to the selected athletes and encouraged other participants. “The main objective of the program is to create a pool of athletes in the age group 11-17 years with aptitude which will possibly bring honor for India in track events at the highest echelon of sporting events – of the Olympics,” he said. “There is no dearth of talent in rural areas and this unique program will help to identify, select and nurture the hidden talent in athletics across the length and breadth of our country and the winners will be given extensive training throughout the year,” he added.

The Minister was accompanied by Joint Secretary of the J&K State Sports Council, Shiv Kumar Sharma; SSP Kathua, Pawan Parihar; DYSSO Kathua; and State Representative of the NYCS, Opinder Sharma.Pertinently the GAIL (India) Limited and NYCS launched a grassroots athletics program for nurturing young talent from across the country. Under this initiative several athletes were put through the paces under the age group of 11 – 17 years in 100m, 200m and 800m track events at district police lines, Kathua.A total of 908 young athletes, including 205 girls, turned up for the trials held under the watchful eyes of coaches and experts. The participating athletes were from district Kathua, Udhampur, Reasi and Samba. The selection of the athletes was based on talent identification and selection criteria set by the selection committee.As many as seven athletes, including a girl, have been selected for the zonal trials by the National Yuva Cooperative Society (NYCS) during day-long selection process.