New Delhi: Punjab is known for its sporting culture and is once again echoing with the excitement of football. As part of the TV9 Network’s News 9 Indian Tigers & Tigresses season 2, in association with Bundesliga, our team reached in Mahilpur village in Hoshiarpur.
The young footballers looked delighted with the opportunity, and the dream of playing for the nation was clearly visible in their eyes. The trials were conducted in Mahilpur for the TV9 Network’s News 9 Indian Tigers & Tigresses season 2, in association with the Bundesliga. Hundreds of children, not just from Hoshiarpur, but from all 23 districts of Punjab, participated in these trials in huge numbers.
From early morning, there were long queues on the ground, and every child was eager to prove their talent. Girls also showed tremendous enthusiasm along with the boys. Separate trials were conducted for boys and girls, giving them fair and equal opportunity to showcase their skills.
‘We have received such a platform for the first time’
They said that it was the first time they had received such a big and professional platform to showcase their talent.
“We are very happy that TV9 came to our village to conduct the trials. We have received such a platform for the first time. When trials like these are held, our enthusiasm increases even more. Now it feels like we too can move ahead.”
The coaches, who accompanied the children, also praised the TV9 Network’s News 9 Indian Tigers & Tigresses Season 2, in association with the Bundesliga. They said that for today’s children, who are distracted by mobile phones and other things, this growing interest in football is a new and positive direction.
TV9 Network’s News 9 Indian Tigers & Tigresses Season 2, in association with Bundesliga, has provided a great platform for the young footballers. The aim of the initiative is to identify the best footballers for the grassroots level, and provide them international level training.
In season 1 of the TV9 Network’s News9 Indian Tigers and Tigresses, 12 girls and 16 boys, along with three Indian coaches, visited Austria and Germany after months of trials and a nationwide hunt for young footballing superstars.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave a historic send-off to the country’s top young footballers selected in the football talent hunt programme at the ‘What India Thinks Today 2025’ (WITT 2025) Global Summit in New Delhi. Organised by TV9, India’s largest news network, the Global Summit was held in March 2025 at the Bharat Mandapam in Delhi.
Following the successful tour of Europe, the young footballers were welcomed at home by Honourable Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and Austrian Ambassador to India, Katharina Wieser, at the Austrian Embassy.