The Hindu : Sport : Gatorade Pacers 2008 in January

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Monday, Dec 24, 2007
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Gatorade Pacers 2008 in January

CHENNAI: Gatorade, a well known sports drink, will organise ‘Gatorade Pacers 2008’ — a fast bowling talent hunt in January, 2008, targeting the age group of 12 to 22 from where they hope to get “India’s next fast bowling sensation.”

Two lucky winners of the contest will get the opportunity to train under former Australian pace bowler Dennis Lillee for two weeks at the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai.

This year, the programme will reach out to more than 800 schools in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore.

Chennai round

The Chennai round is scheduled for January 5 and 6, 2008, at the MRF Pace Foundation, MCCHS School, Harrington Road.

The Bangalore selection round will be on January 12 and 13, 2008, at the KSCA practice Ground at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, Gate No. 5.

The participants will be judged by the selectors of the National Cricket Academy and the MRF Pace Foundation.

Selection process

The selection process will involve the use of a speed gun and assessment of physical fitness, action and the potential of the bowler.

Two best bowlers in three categories, under–15, 22 and u-22 professionals, will be selected from each city for the semifinals.

A total of 16 potential fast bowlers will go through a rigid coaching session by MRF Pace Academy Chief Coach, T.A. Sekar, and Gatorade Master Trainer, Nisha Verma, at the final selection round in Delhi on January 21 and 22, 2008.

In January, Gatorade Pacers went to 600 schools in four cities from where over 1,300 students were assessed.

The three winners of the nationwide hunt were sent to Chennai to be trained under Lillee.

One of them, Ravi Kant Sharma, is in the Rajasthan State Ranji team and the other, P.K. Dharma, in the Tamil Nadu u-17 team.

Registration can be done at www.gatorade.co.in or www.cricinfo.com/gatoradepacers2008/register.html. — Special Correspondent

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