The News9’s Indian Tigers and Tigresses campaign witnessed remarkable success across the country as young kids participated in huge numbers to showcase their potential in the biggest talent hunt programme in the history of Indian sports.
TV9 Network’s one-of-a-kind football programme has revolutionised the Indian sporting landscape. With approximately 50,000 registrations in eight scouting camps across the country, kids from 16000 schools joined the football revolution by attending the mega-hunt.
Close to 3,000 girls and 7,000 boys were shortlisted after the registration process, but only 32 made it to the finals after a series of rigorous trials across the country.
From village greens to Austria: The journey of Gurleen and Japleen Kaur
Selected from the Punjab trials, Gurleen and Japleen Kaur are part of the ‘Fab 32’ who have been selected to train with the best in Austria.
Both Gurleen and Japleen, who belong to Punjab’s Gujjarwal village near Ludhiana, are ready to take the next big step in their career.
For Japleen, playing football wasn’t always her sporting dream. She started her sporting journey with table tennis, but life had other plans. When a football academy opened in her village during the lockdown, she tried her luck in football and found her calling.
Her father, Harjot Singh, a former Kabaddi player, has no qualms about his daughter’s choice. In fact, he is proud of her achievements.
Sports run in Japleen’s family. While her father was a kabaddi player, his brother pursued bodybuilding as a career. In a family where sport was a way of life. Japleen made her own identity – on the football field.
Japleen and Gurleen’s coach, Goli Thapa, is proud of the achievements of both his students.
Inspiring stories: Overcoming challenges to achieve football dreams
Meanwhile, Gurleen, who has been selected as a goalkeeper, comes from a very poor family. Initially, she had doubts about her playing abilities, but when she saw her junior, all those doubts were washed away, and she jumped at the chance and started dreaming.
Gurleen’s father, Harpreet, who is a truck driver, was speechless after learning about his daughter’s achievements.
Gurleen and Japleen’s coach, Goli Thapa, believes Gurleen is a good goalkeeper and has a bright future ahead.
The grand finale of the News9 Indian Tigers and Tigresses football initiative concluded at the Sudeva ground in New Delhi on Saturday, March 8, and the selected kids are now ready to realise their football dreams in Austria.
Before taking the dream flight to Austria, the Indian Tigers and Tigresses will get the privilege to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi at TV9 Network’s What India Thinks Today (WITT) summit on March 28.
News9’s Indian Tigers and Tigresses football campaign unearthed incredible talent across the country. Japleen Kaur and Gurleen Kaur, two girls Punjab’s Gujjarwal village, were selected against all odds and secured a golden opportunity of training in Austria. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
