New Delhi: Sports Minister Manshukh Mandavia on Monday hailed the landmark Indian Tigers and Tigresses campaign organised by the TV9 Network. The historic initiative witnessed a nationwide hunt for India’s top young football enthusiasts, who participated in the mega-event in huge numbers across the country.
The Union Sports Minister encouraged the players on their return to the country after a landmark trip to Europe. Mr Mandavia pushed the young champs to work hard and aim big for the 2036 Olympics and also urged them to help the country make a mark in the FIFA World Cup.
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandavia’s words of wisdom
He also motivated the youngsters by citing the example of Indian Army personnel, who, like sportsmen, have the prestigious opportunity to represent the country. He interacted with the kids and asked them about their experience in Europe and reposed faith in India’s footballing future.
From a whopping 50,000 registrations, 10,000 participants were selected for the regional trials, but only 28 talented superstars were shortlisted for a special training programme in Austria and Germany.
The Indian Tigers and Tigresses campaign, hailed as the world’s biggest football talent hunt programme for age groups of 12-14 and 15-17 categories, was launched in April 2024 and concluded with 28 footballers realising their football dream.
The young champs recieved a historic send-off from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who blessed the News9 “Indian Tigers and Tigresses” initiative at the What India Thinks Today (WITT) Summit in New Delhi on March 28.
The young football champs showed remarkable resilience, skill, and determination during intense and rigorous training sessions under top European coaches in Gmunden, Austria.
From India to Europe: Young footballers live a glorious dream
Despite challenging weather conditions, the young footballers remained focused, making the most of their training sessions. After two days of intensive practice, their biggest test came in the form of friendly matches against Gmunden Football Academy.
The Indian boys delivered a stunning performance, crushing their opponents 7-0 in a dominant display of attacking prowess and teamwork in the U-15 category. Meanwhile, the girls, despite a spirited display, suffered a tough loss in the U-13 category.
The young champs played with a lot of heart as a coach of the German club VfB Stuttgart, youth development partner of TV9 Network’s initiative, closely analysing the performances of the Indian players.
After closely monitoring the “Special 28”, four players were selected for a 2-day training session with Stuttgart’s Under-12 squad in Germany
The Indian players were involved in intense drills, including fast-paced passing, precision and passing under pressure.
Meanwhile, back in Austria, the rest of the Tigers and Tigresses underwent a data-based performance analysis at the Gmunden performance testing lab, which included sprint speeds, balance, strength, and recovery.
From India to Gmunden to Germany, the extraordinary journey of Tigers and Tigresses has set a benchmark like no other.
The TV9 Network’s “Indian Tigers and Tigresses” campaign, a nationwide football talent hunt, culminated in 28 young players receiving elite training in Austria and Germany. Sports Minister Mansukh Mandavia lauded the initiative, encouraging the players to strive for the 2036 Olympics and FIFA World Cup. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
