Gatorade Pacers completes Delhi leg

Gatorade Pacers' second edition came to a successful finale in New Delhi, with ten young fast bowlers chosen for a six-week training camp at the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai under Dennis Lillee and TA Sekhar, the foundation's chief coach.

Three thousand seven hundred and eighty five aspiring pacers from Under-15, U-17, U-19 and U-22 categories nominated by over 1080 schools, colleges, sports clubs as well as eight state cricket associations across India participated in the regional rounds of 'Gatorade Pacers' 2008 in the first two weeks of January.

Eighteen finalists were shortlisted from these six cities and went through a structured training-cum-selection session conducted by Sekar and Gatorade Master Trainer Ms Nisha Verma at the national finals held in New Delhi at the Central Secretariat Ground on January 21 and 22.

Various sessions such as net practice with right and left-handed batsmen, measuring speed with speed guns, intensive fitness sessions for fast bowlers, bowling on central pitches and fitness and fielding were conducted to select the winners of this national hunt.

The highlight of the event was a video analysis session wherein Sekar analysed the bowling actions of the aspirants. Scientific feedback was provided to the pacers individually, which would help them improve their bowling techniques. For some, the problem was with the run-up, for others with the load-up during delivery and Sekar pointed out the areas that can be worked on. Sreesanth, the Indian fast bowler, too was present on the second day of the trials, handing out tips to the youngsters.

Delighted with the quality of the finalists, Gatorade and Sekar revised their original plan of choosing five pacers and instead, picked ten lucky winners.