NEW DELHI: Sports Minister Vijay Goel on Friday reiterated his commitment to developing sports at the grassroots through the recently-developed Talent Search Portal even as he assured that poor facilities and maintenance of existing venues would be taken care of at the earliest.
Asking kids aged eight years and above to directly upload their videos and achievements on the TSP, Goel said the final 1,000 kids shortlisted and selected would be awarded scholarships and adopted for further training at Sports Authority of India centres.
“I have issued strict instructions to the venue administrators. I made a flying visit during the wrestling event and I will be making more such surprise visits across venues during all future events,” Goel said, referring to the poor conditions at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Complex during the recent Asian wrestling championships.
Accompanied by Manipur Chief Minister Biren Singh and other sports personalities, Goel was speaking at the launch of a 25-foot football blow-up to popularise the upcoming FIFA Under-17 World Cup, to be held at six venues across the country, from October 6-28.
The launch was part of a mini football fest organised as part of promotional activities ahead of the World Cup.
Incidentally, the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here is one of the six venues for the World Cup, but poor conditions there forced the AFI to shift the Federation Cup athletics next month to Patiala.
While Biren is a former India player, also present on the occasion included cricketer Mohammed Kaif and pugilist Vijender Singh.
