SAI selection panel shortlists 56 players

Sports Correspondent
Ludhiana, February 21

On the second and penultimate day of the selection trials, 56 players were shortlisted in five sports disciplines — athletics, handball, judo, table tennis and weightlifting — by the selection panel with recommendation for their induction under the residential and day-boarding scheme of the Sports Authority of India (SAI).

The in-charge and coordinator of the local training centre of the SAI, Harbans Singh, said 18 more aspirants turned up for the trials on Thursday, taking the number to 140.

All these aspirants were tested for motor abilities, besides examined with the specific skill tests of the sports as per the procedure.

After performing the uniformed tests following the set norms of selection process, in all 56 talented and promising players (boys and girls) were selected under the SAI scheme.

Giving break-up of the selected players, Harbans Singh said in athletics, six players were chosen under the residential scheme while five players were picked up under the day-boarding scheme.

Similarly, in handball, eight under residential and five under day-boarding scheme; in judo seven under residential and 17 under day-boarding; in table tennis nine under day-boarding scheme and two players under the residential scheme were selected for recommendation for the registration with the SAI training centre, Ludhiana, he said.

Ajit Singh, director in-charge, SAI, Regional Centre, Chandigarh, also visited Ludhiana on Thursday to interview these players.

The shortlisted players will now be examined for age verification by a panel of doctors from the local Civil Hospital.

The selection committee formed by the SAI will check sports achievement and date of birth certificates and those with the appropriate documents will be recommended to the competent authority for the final approval to induct the eligible players under the respective SAI schemes, added Harbans Singh.