Gatorade pace bowling hunt to begin in Mumbai from tomorrow

Mumbai, Jan 4 (UNI) Sports drink major Gatorade will begin the 2008 edition of its Pace Bowling Talent Hunt, 'Gatorade Pacers', here on January 5 and 6.

After the stupendous success of its first edition in 2007, Gatorade plans to look for under-15 and u-22 talent from more than 1,000 schools, college and sports clubs in India across the six cities -- Hyderabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore and Jamshedpur -- in 2008, a release said here today.

Two lucky winners of the hunt will receive once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be trained at the prestigious MRF Pace Foundation through a comprehensive training programme designed by the legendary Australian pace bowler Dennis Lillee.

Through this initiative, Gatorade aims at bringing the best of sports science and training to grass-roots level pace bowling talent in India. The company's association with the game of cricket also reinforces its strong credentials as the expert on hydration, which is essential for fast bowlers who lose considerable amount of salts and water while on field.

The Mumbai round is scheduled for January 5 and 6, at Mumbai Cricket Association's (MCA) Practice Ground, Bandra-Kurla Complex.

Selectors affiliated to MRF Pace Foundation will select the participants using the scientific criteria of speed, accuracy and action, the release said.

The selection process involves measuring bowling speed with a speed gun coupled with expert's assessment of action, fitness and potential of the bowler.

A total of 16 potential pace bowlers will be selected from the regional rounds (Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore) to go through a structured training-cum-selection session to be conducted by MRF Chief Coach T A Sekhar, renowned Sports Fitness expert Ramji Srinivasan and Gatorade Master Trainer Nisha Verma at the national finals in New Delhi on January 21 and 22, where they will compete for a chance to be trained at the MRF Pace Foundation in a course under the legendary Dennis Lillee, it added.

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