GAIL - The Fastest Indian finale marks the beginning of the Olympic journey

Milkha Singh at The Fastest Indian finale in Delhi

“I would not stop till I had filled up a bucket with my sweat. I would push myself so much that in the end I would collapse and I would have to be admitted to hospital, I would pray to God to save me, promise that I would be more careful in future. And then I would do it all over again.” – Milkha Singh.

Although the curtains are drawn, the journey is merely beginning. It’s time the backstage gaines the prominence it deserves. The search for ‘The Fastest Indian’ is finally over.

An ambitious hunt for the next Milkha Singh

India’s most ambitious athletics talent hunt, ‘The Fastest Indian’ is an initiative by GAIL and Spoment to help, nurture, and groom the kids who have the potential to become star athletes for the country tomorrow. The initiative began in September 2014 when GAIL announced that India’s ‘Flying Sikh’ Milkha Singh will be the principal mentor and would help polish the skills of the champions.

GAIL -TFI in association with Spoment went to 19 cities across the country and 8 finalists with the best timings in each category (boys and girls’ 100m, 200m, 400m) were chosen to particpate in the Finale event, held in Delhi on 16th January 2015.

Milkha Singh inspired the stars of tomorrow

Milkha Singh inaugrated the event in Delhi and had a lot to tell the budding stars who had come to the capital from all across the country. Talking about the difficulties that an Indian faces while pursuing sports in India, he said that at one point of time, he never wanted his own children to get into sports. “But today times have improved,” he said.

He also mentioned that there should be certain promised jobs for sportspersons according to the level of distiction they have achieved in the sport; only then will parents not be apprehensive about supporting their children to pursue sports.

Runners line up for the final race

The winners announced

After six closely fought races in the boys and girls’ 100m, 200m and 400m sections, the winners were finally announced. Here are the fastest Indians. Remember their names, in a few years from now, they’ll be India’s best chance to win an Olympics gold medal in athletics.

100m boys – Badal Shokeen – Delhi – 11:86 seconds

100m girls – Melanie Rodriguez – Mumbai – 13:77 seconds

200m boys – Shivang Mishra – Lucknow – 23:84 seconds

200m girls – Ankita Chahal – Delhi – 28:11 seconds

400m boys – Shivang Mishra – Delhi – 51.60 seconds

400m girls – Ankita Chahal – Delhi – 1:01:40 minute