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| “It’s been an amazing journey across the country,” said India’s tennis icon Mahesh Bhupathi, after deciding on the 15th child and turning to shake hands with a delighted Neeraj Kanwar, whose brainchild it was to begin a programme to nurture India’s tennis talent. Added Neeraj R S Kanwar, Joint MD & COO, Apollo Tyres Ltd, “The response to the Mission 2018 Challenge talent-spotting camps that Mahesh, his team and Globosport have undertaken for us has been overwhelming. We are looking to add to this excellent pool every year and build on the legacy of Krishnan, Amritraj, Paes and Bhupathi.”
The month-long Apollo Tyres Mission 2018, a programme to identify gifted young players, reached its finale in New Delhi today, with the announcement of the recipients of the first batch of the Apollo Tyres Mission 2018 Tennis Scholarships. The final 15 were selected from a total of 32 children who had qualified for the national level rounds from the four zonal camps held through the month in Bangalore, Mumbai, Kolkata and Delhi. The last round of selections involved multiple sessions of skill, fitness and agility tests. |
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Rohan Mehra, age 6 -- the youngest child in the entire group. Resident of Delhi. Studies in Kindergarten, Delhi Public School, East of Kailash |
| Jennifer Luikham, age 8. Resident of Delhi. Studies in Class III, Heritage School |
| Nandini Das, age 8. Resident of Navi Mumbai. Studies in Class III, Father Agnel School |
| Romil Kamdar, age 9. Resident of Mumbai. Studies in Class IV, P G Garodia School |
| Sumit Nagal, age 10. Resident of Nangloi. Studies in Class VI, RKPV Paschim Vihar |
| Sneha Reddy, age 10. Resident of Mumbai. Studies in Class VI, Raj Hans Vidyalaya |
| Seulee Upadhayaya, age 11. Resident of Paradeep. Studies in Class VI, Bethany Convent School |
| Simran Kaur Sethi, age 11. Resident of Delhi. Studies in Class VI, DPS R K Puram |
| Rohan Bhatia, age 12. Resident of Nasik. Studies in Class VIII, Frabashi International School |
Mohammad Azhar, age 12. Resident of Kolkata and selected from the Kolkata camp. Studies in Class V, Safee Hall School |
| Dhruti Venugopal, age 10. Resident of Mysore. Studies in Class VI, Ideal Java Rotary School. |
| Spoorti Shivalingiah, age 12. Resident of Bangalore. Studies in Class VII, Delhi Public School. |
| Sansita Nandakumar, age 12. Resident of Koentour. Studies in Class VII, Vidya Niketan School. |
| Sheikh Abdullah, age 12. Resident of Hyderabad |
| Saurabh Singh, age 14. Resident of Delhi. Studies in Kendriya Vidyalaya, R K Puram |
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The Chosen 15 represent India’s hope for the future. Said Neeraj Kanwar, Joint MD & COO, Apollo Tyres Ltd, at the press conference: “I am a tennis player myself, but had never really imagined that it would be possible for me and Apollo Tyres to play a role in realising the dreams of some very talented children and their parents. We have set ourselves a target of creating an Indian Singles Grand Slam Champion by the year 2018 and today I feel confident, that with Mahesh and his team as partners, we will be able to do so.”
Added Mahesh Bhupathi, Managing Director, Globosport: “It’s a tremendous opportunity that is being created here. Parents like mine have been able to take the hard work and expenses that are required in a sport like tennis, but not everyone is that fortunate. I hope more companies like Apollo Tyres will come forward to groom talent in India. It’s the real young ones, in the age group of six to 10 years, who have been the most impressive. This has been a fabulous experience and I am looking forward to next year.”
To ensure that the remaining 17 children who had qualified for the penultimate round of selections have an even better chance of qualifying next year, Neeraj Kanwar and Mahesh Bhupathi took an on-the-spot decision to create a special training scholarship. This fund will provide these children with a two-week, all-expenses paid training and coaching session at the Bhupathi Tennis Village in Bangalore, where, under the guidance of Mr C G K Bhupathi, they will work on a future course of action.
As for the Chosen 15, they will begin their new lives at the Bhupathi Tennis Village in Bangalore, post their year-end exams. And it’s not going to be easy. After two months of rigorous training there, they will proceed to Le Centre d’Expertise de la Performance in Dijon, France, for physical strength and conditioning assessments. From there they will join the European Juniors Tour, returning home in August, before debuting on the domestic circuit with the National Tournaments. They will return home for Diwali and then complete the rounds of the National Tournaments before the Christmas vacations. The young Champs seem more than ready for the grind.
The finale, however, was not without its poignant moments of ecstasy and anguish. However, alongside the joy of the chosen players, the dejection of those unable to qualify for the first batch of full scholarship winners was marked by true sportsperson spirit. “Another chance presents itself next year” ... was the common refrain.
In May this year, Apollo Tyres had shared its long-term plans of creating the first Indian Singles Grand Slam Champion by the year 2018 – popularly known as Mission 2018. For the next 10 years, the company has committed a sum of Rs 100 crore for developing talent in the sport of tennis. Among the biggest sports initiatives undertaken by any corporate in India, tennis ace, Mahesh Bhupathi, is the consultant for this project, with Globosport as the on-ground executor. Bhupathi’s tennis-training facility on the outskirts of Bangalore city will be the training ground for the children.
Sports goods manufacturer Wilson and the healthy snack food Sunfeast partnered with Apollo Tyres with on-ground support at all the camps. |
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