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GAIL- The Fastest Indian has officially began the hunt for the next Milkha Singh. The first of 19 events across India was held at Chandigarh today. Over 200 children from various schools were present at the MRA Senior Secondary Model School.
For the first three hours, all the children participated in the heats of the 100m, 200m and 400m category. The best performers in the heats went up against each other in the semi-finals and the finest athletes of in the city of Chandigarh were selected for the finals.
In the boys’ 100m category Sahib Tanden won the gold medal while Kumkum Thakur took the gold in the girls’ 100m event. Mitul Madan and Anju Thalor won the gold medals in the 200m boys’ and girls’ events respectively. Chirag Ghanotra and Amarjot Kaur took top honours in the 400m boys’ and girls’ events respectively.
Here are the results of the finals from Chandigarh.
| Position | Name | Event | BIB No. |
| Boys | |||
| 1ST PLACE | Sahib Tandan | 100m | 18 |
| 2ND PLACE | Ayush Rekh | 100m | 23 |
| 3RD PLACE | Tejpal Gautam | 100m | 394 |
| Girls | |||
| 1ST PLACE | Kumkum Thakur | 100m | 21 |
| 2ND PLACE | Seema | 100m | 328 |
| 3RD PLACE | Amrit | 100m | 114 |
| Boys | |||
| 1ST PLACE | Mitul Madan | 200m | 312 |
| 2ND PLACE | Aman Preet | 200m | 35 |
| 3RD PLACE | Aman Jatain | 200m | 365 |
| Girls | |||
| 1ST PLACE | Anju Thalor | 200m | 217 |
| 2ND PLACE | Prerna | 200m | 20 |
| 3RD PLACE | Anchal Singh | 200m | 213
|
| Boys | |||
| 1ST PLACE | Chirag Ghanotra | 400m | 29 |
| 2ND PLACE | Vineet | 400m | 28 |
| 3RD PLACE | Sohit Singh | 400m | 129 |
| Girls | |||
| 1ST PLACE | Amarjot Kaur | 400m | 104 |
| 2ND PLACE | Vaishali | 400m | 226 |
| 3RD PLACE | Muskan | 400m | 225 |
The best part of the Fastest Indian initiative by GAIL is that it is open for all children, as long as they are below the age of 14. It does not matter what school the children attend or any other part of their background.
Gyan All Children Welfare Society, an NGO that provides free education to underprivileged children, had 10 of their students participate in the event. The NGO provides the children with all school supplies, uniforms and ensures that qualified teachers teach the students.
Neeraj Mehta, director of Gyan All Children Welfare Society, said that it the Fastest Indian initiative will help the children gain exposure in sports. “Our children have several events in theater and dance. This was the first one in sports. The Fastest Indian has given them a platform to show everyone that they can compete with everyone else,” Mehta said.
12-year-old Harkarman Singh won his 100m heat. His mother Satwinder Kaur was confident that her son could become the fastest Indian. “He has an athletes body. He plays several sports and participates in many events,” Kaur said.
“GAIL- The Fastest Indian has given an opportunity for the children to challenge their own limits. The event has shown that there are many fast runners in Chandigarh,” she said.
