Union Steel Minister lauds SAIL Football Academy

Shashank Shekhar

Bokaro ( Jharkhand) : Union Steel Minister  Chaudhary Birender Singh felicitated the Steel Authority of India Ltd-run SAIL Football Academy (SFA) cadets who recently won the coveted 58^th International Subroto Cup Football Championship 2017, at a ceremony held in Kolkata. Union Minister of State for Steel, Vishnu Deo Sai and SAIL Chairman  PK Singh also graced the occasion. Singh announced a cash prize of Rs five lakh for the team and presented sportswear to each cadet.

The 16 budding talents of SAIL Football Academy, located in Bokaro, represented Jharkhand State U-17 (boys) in the Subroto Cup tournament held in September 2017.

During the ceremony, Birender Singh congratulated the players for their excellent effort and said, “These talented boys have proved that with proper facilities and support our sportspersons can be world beaters.” Praising the efforts of SAIL in running various sports academies, he remarked, “Promotion of sports and nurturing talents should be encouraged and more organizations should come forward to support budding players and help India gain sporting glory.”  The Minister observed the coincidence of felicitating the budding footballers in Kolkata, which is known  as  the Mecca of football.

Minister of State for Steel  Vishnu Deo Sai said, “It is heartening to see how SAIL also encourages excellence of sportspersons while leading the steel industry in India.” Speaking on the occasion, SAIL Chairman  PK Singh praised the SFA for developing footballers and winning the Subroto Cup four times. He observed, “SAIL does not produce only steel, it also produces excellent sportspersons and outstanding students for virtually all sectors of administration, public service and economy.”

SAIL runs a number of sports academies at its Plants and Mines providing quality coaching to young talents in football, hockey, athletics, archery and other games. Cadets of SAIL’s Eklavya Archery Academy located in SAIL-Kiriburu Iron Ore Mines in Jharkhand like Ms Sumita Kumari and  Hurdup Tiriya have represented India. Similarly, players of SAIL Hockey Academy at Rourkela have played international-level championships. Anand Lakra has been a part of Junior India Hockey Team in test match series held in Australia.