More than 70,000 school students expected to participate in Schools India Cup-Season 3

New Delhi, Aug. 31, 2018: In a major fillip to grass root sports in India, the School Sports Promotion Foundation (SSPF) announced here today, that around 5,000 schools are expected to participate in the Schools India Cup-Season 3, starting September 1.

The Schools India Cup, a joint initiative of the SSPF with Sports Authority of India (SAI) in 2015, is held under the National Talent Search & Nurture program and supported by the Ministry of HRD. A nation-wide hunt is conducted through a three-tier championship at the district, state and National level respectively to scout young talents in the under-16 age category. This year, the Schools India Cup competition will be held for five sports disciplines, namely athletics, football, volleyball, basketball and cricket.

The 2018-19 edition opener will kick-off with the district championships in football in Noida, Gautam Budh Nagar district (UP) on September 1, cricket in Dindigul (Tamil Nadu) on September 4, and athletics in Saharanpur district (UP) from September 7 onwards. Around 70,000 student-athletes from 20 states, including remote places like Kargil and Leh in Jammu and Kashmir, are expected to participate in the three-tier championship. The top talent emerging from the Schools India Cup will be invited for the National camp for specialized training and mentoring under experts.

On this occasion, the Chairman of School Sports Promotion Foundation and a Member of the PM’s Olympic Task Force, Mr Om Pathak, said, “Under the National Talent Search and Nurture program we seek to provide holistic development to our young generation and create social and economic safety nets for the students who are talented and passionate about pursuing a career in sports. This is a National movement

to create a strong sports culture in India and I am thankful to all the stakeholders for supporting our endeavor.”

On this occasion, Olympian and Chairman of SSPF’s National School Athletics Council, Charles Borromeo, said, “The ongoing Asian Games in Jakarta showed ample evidence of the prowess of our youth. There is abundant talent in the country, but we need to nurture and take care of the youngsters at the grass root level. I am confident that the Schools India Cup-athletics championships will lend a big boost to promote athletics in the schools.”

Ex-international cricketer and Chairman of SSPF’s National Schools Cricket Council, Mr Chetan Sharma, said, “Our future champions are in the schools and I am thrilled to play a role in supporting and sharing my knowledge and skills to the next generation of cricketers for India. From 1,200 schools in the first year to 5,000 for season 3, the popularity of the Schools India Cup is soaring high and I am thankful to the school managements across India for their overwhelming support to the program.”

Football legend and Chairman of SSPF’s National School Football Council, Bhaichung Bhutia, said, “Indian football needs a strong edifice for it to grow and match up to world standards. I convey my best wishes to all the youngsters in the schools across the length and breadth of India for a successful outing in the Schools India Cup-Season 3.”

Former India volleyball captain and Chairman of SSPF’s National School Volleyball Council, Om Parkash said, “The Schools India Cup for volleyball is finding new talent for the country each year, and I hope that at the end of Season3, we spot some special talent to launch the Centre of Excellence exclusively for volleyball.”

Indian basketball star and Chairman of SSPF’s National School Basketball Council, Vishesh Bhrighuvanshi, said, “Basketball is catching up the imagination of the young generation in India and the Schools India Cup is an ideal platform to perform and get nurtured for the future. I wish all the best to all the participants for Schools India Cup-Season 3.”