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GAIL- The Fastest Indian (GTFI), an initiative by Spoment and GAIL (India) Limited - India’s Natural Gas major, to search, identify and nurture the future athletes of India, is successfully reaching out to remote corners of the country. With runners participating at events held at 19 different cities, the GTFI is heading in the right direction to produce the next Milkha Singh.
The 10th leg of the event was held on 11th November in Bangalore, the city which will host the grand finale of the Fastest Indian next month. The event was graced by Asian Games medallist Sharath Gayakwad, who inspired the children to better and bigger things in athletics.
One of the highlights of the event was a 13-year-old boy who travelled over 400 kms to participate at the event. Tushar studies at the Shri Laxmi Janardan School in Udupi, where a friend told him about the event. An avid runner, Tushar was eager to show his speed and race against hundreds of others in Bangalore. On the eve of the night, Tushar took the bus from Udupi and arrived early morning in the city, where his uncle was present to pick him up.
Tushar finished second in the heat events, and very pleased by his performance. “The competition is more difficult here. I felt very good overall,” Tushar said.
Tushar was encouraged by his uncle to participate the event in Bangalore.
It takes immense courage to travel solo for 400 kms to race in a new city. But this is exactly what GAIL and Spoment aim to achieve through the Fastest Indian. A. Balasubramanian, Zonal Manager of GAIL who was the Chief Guest for the event, believes that the first athletic talent hunt on a national scale will eventually win medals for India at the Olympics. “GAIL is only 30, which is relatively very young for a company. We believe in the power of the youth and want to ensure that the potential of young children is maximised. We want to encourage the children, who are the future of India, to actively participate in athletics,” he said.
GAIL, one of India’s fastest growing companies, was the youngest to be awarded the Maharatna award in 2013. Balasubramanian hopes that the success of the company can be equalled by India in athletics through the Fastest Indian initiative. “Partnering with the Fastest Indian makes us feel more youthful. The winners of the initiative will receive top quality coaching, training and nutrition as well as their education up to post-graduate level will be taken care of,” he said.
GAIL-The Fastest Indian initiative is India’s hope to win Olympic medals in the future. Champions are not created overnight; champions are carved over the years with the right tools. GAIL and Spoment have come together to ensure the athletic talent in India is not only identified, but also nurtured and trained into international athletes.
