Tata Tea Jaago Re Inter Milan Soccers Stars ’12 – selects Nishu Kumar from Chandigarh (CENTRE) to represent India at a youth tournament in Milan , Italy in September

Chandigarh, July 18, 2012 – Young football talent, Nishu Kumar from Chandigarh has been selected amongst the 16 most talented players of the fifth season of Tata Tea Jaago Re Inter Milan Soccer Stars ’12. Along with 15 other players, Nishu will represent India at a youth tournament in Milan, Italy in September.
Representing the Government Model High School Sector – 36, which won the Chandigarh zonal round, Nishu was selected amongst the 37 most talented players from across 15 locations in the country for a week long training camp in Kolkata, where he was shortlisted by F. C. Internazionale Milano (Inter Milan) and Indian coaches to represent India.
Speaking on the initiative, Mr. Vikram Grover, Vice-President Marketing, Tata Global Beverages, said, "Through this initiative, Tata Tea aims to awaken young soccer talent across India and help them compete on the world stage. We are delighted to see the encouraging response this initiative has received year on year. What started off as a tournament 5 years ago is today India’s biggest platform for talented young players to make a mark in the sport. Tata Tea’s association with a reputed club like Inter Milan gives these 16 soccer stars access to world class coaching with the best mentors and an opportunity to go to Milan and experience soccer at the global level.”
The five-month long under-15 soccer talent hunt by Tata Tea in association with football club Inter Milan witnessed a participation of 6500 young players from over 650 schools in the fifth season, 37 of the most talented from 15 locations across the country were selected to be trained by Inter Milan coaches. Mr. Jamshid Nassiri, tournament Head Scout closely monitored all the matches and selected 37 of the most talented players for the training camp in Kolkata. The 16 most talented players were chosen after a week-long intensive training session.
The fifth and the biggest season ever of the all India ‘Tata Tea Jaago Re Inter Milan Soccer Stars ‘12’ kicked off in Bhubaneswar in December 2011 and went on to cover 15 cities across the length and breadth of the country. The Chandigarh zonal tournament was held on January 16, 2012. The national finals were played at Shillong on April 28, 2012. For more details visit: www.jaagoresoccerstars.com.

Mr. M.P.Pandove Honorary Secretary, PCA advised the coaches and the trainers to ensure that unlike last year Punjab should not fall short of bowlers on account of injuries sustained during the tournament. He emphasized that this camp should be used for enhancing the staying power of the players and also increase their mental strength for the rigorous of four day games where the bowlers have to bowl for longer spells of even 20-25 overs per day. With this end in view 12 fast bowlers and 07 spinners have been drafted for this off season camp so that the state has a full complement of bowlers available for the upcoming domestic season. Mr. Vikram Rathore the Cricket Manager is making all efforts to achieve the fitness standards through proper physical training and also through regular interface sessions of individual players while analyzing their mistakes through individual videos.