Austrian Ambassador to India, Kaitharina Visar, on Monday welcomed the young footballers who returned from Europe, appreciating the TV9 network’s historic football campaign ‘Indian Tigers and Tigrants’. 28 promising players selected under the event performed brilliantly in Austria and Germany, after which they were honored by Sports Minister Mansukh Mandavia and Austrian Embassy in India.
Vigorously welcome to children on returning from Austria
This landmark football talent hunt program ended with a tour of Europe to young players, where he showed his skills in front of the Academy Coaches of the German Club VFB Stattgart. Four out of 28 children got a 2-day special training with Stutgart’s Under-12 team at MHP Arena, Germany.
On returning to India, Union Sports Minister Mandavia met these young talents and inspired the 2036 Olympics and FIFA World Cup. After this, Ambassador Visar praised the children at the Austrian Embassy.
“Children’s struggle added Austria-India relationship” Ambassador Visar
Ambassador Visar said, “I watched videos of these children’s match and training on YouTube, which made me emotional connection with them. I was present even when PM Modi bid them farewell. The hard work he practiced despite the cold in Gmunden, Austria, is comfortable.”
He further said, “I talked to every child and heard how much he liked the experience of Austria. The special thing of this program is that both boys and girls got equal opportunity. I am happy that Austria became a part of this campaign.”
Visar congratulated the TV9 network for this unique initiative and said that the program would strengthen India-Austrian relations through sports and also promote Gmunden’s tourism.
Travel from 50,000 to 28 players
Started in April 2024, this campaign got the status of the world’s largest football talent hunt, in which children in the age group of 12-14 and 15–17 were given opportunity. Out of 50,000 registrations, 10,000 children were selected for regional trials, but only 28 talented players managed to go to Austria and Germany.
On March 28, these young stars were blessed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the WITT Summit. On this occasion, CEO Barun Das of TV9 said, “We started this campaign inspired by Swami Vivekananda’s ideas. Team sports like football teaches children discipline and solidarity.”
European coaching changed lives
Under this program, Indian children got a unique opportunity for world class coaching and training in European academies. In Austria, he played matches against the Gmunden Football Academy, where the U-15 team of boys won 7-0.
Now these young footballers are dreamed of bringing India to FIFA World Cup in future. This effort of the TV9 network not only gave a platform to sports talent, but has also opened new doors of sports diplomacy.