Shillong, May 8: Phase 2 of the sports talent identification search resumed today at Mronggre village in Demdema block, West Garo Hills, with 225 youngsters being put through their paces.
The search is an initiative of the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs and Meghalaya State Olympic Association.
It had been paused for two weeks due to the excessively hot weather that many parts of Meghalaya had been experiencing.
The STAR Talent Identification programme is being conducted under the supervision of technical partners Edge10 – Sportality.
It has tested thousands of youngsters in Meghalaya in the past year and the state government has given the go-ahead for a continuation of the testing programme to reach even more youths this financial year.
The eight schools that participated in the programme today were St Francis School, Shyam Nagar Govt LP school, Kalapani Secondary School, Shyam Nagar Govt UP school, JN Higher Secondary School, Gime New Model Govt School, Gimegari Deficit Secondary School and Chambakpara Govt LP School.
In Phase 1, 4,541 athletes were tested of whom 200 were identified to undergo a one year elite pathway programme.
On completion of Phase 2, a detailed ranking report will be submitted by Edge10 to the Sports Department and it is expected that a few more talented athletes with international benchmarks will be identified.
(Meghalaya State Olympic Association photo)
