Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 1: After the successful completion of season 1, GAIL – Indian Speedstar will commence the next season with the first district trial in Kishtwar at Chowgan ground on December five. Last year’s participants who couldn’t make it to the final trials can also participate in these trials.
As per a handout issued here today, in the Season 2 three J&K districts are going to conduct the trials. Other two being Kathua and Poonch. In all, the GAIL Indian Speedstar will cover 100 Nodal Districts, 29 States and seven Union Territories to scout young talents from the remotest areas of the country.
At initial stage of selection process, trials at district level will be conducted in 100 shortlisted districts under the guidance of coaches and selectors appointed by the committee and selection will be based on talent identification and criteria set by the committee.
In J&K there shall be three district level trials, one at Kishtwar on December five, second at Kathua on December 10 and third at Poonch on December 24. It’s pertinent to mention here that athletes from adjoining districts can also participate who could not participate in Session-1 trials.
The GAIL-Indian Speedstar project, supported by GAIL (India) Limited is being executed pan India by the National Yuva Cooperative Society among the age group of 11-17 years in 100m, 200m and 400m track events. National Yuva Cooperative Society has tied up with Anglian Medal Hunt Company as its Technical Partner for the project.
The National Selection Committee for this season will be headed by the legendary PT Usha and Sriram Singh along with other eminent members like Olympians Rachita Mistry, Anuradha Biswal, Asian and Commonwealth Games medalist Kavita Raut and V Murlidharan.