New Delhi: 

Katharina Wieser, Austrian Ambassador to India, on Monday hailed TV9 Network’s landmark football initiative, Indian Tigers and Tigresses and welcomed the young football champs on their return home following a historic trip to Austria.

 Austrian Ambassador’s praise for Indian Tigers & Tigresses

Following the special meeting with the Sports Minister, the football superstars were welcomed by the Austrian Embassy, where Katharina Wieser, Austrian Ambassador to India, showered praise on the programme and lauded the talented kids.

“I was so pleased when I saw those videos (of Indian Tigers and Tigresses playing) on YouTube. I felt a connection with all the players because I was there when they recieved the send-off by PM Narendra Modi. I saw the clips of kids training hard in Gmunden, Austria, despite the cold weather. I’m so happy to see the kids (boys and girls of both age groups) together like a team,” Wieser told News9.

She also spoke to each kid individually and opened up on the positive feedback she recieved about Gmunden, Austria.

I’m sure they had a very positive experience (in Austria) which they will remember for a long time. I spoke to the kids, and they shared fond memories of the Gmunden trip and loved the beauty and landscape of the town. I recieved positive feedback from all the boys and girls. One of the great things about this programme is that it includes both boys and girls. I’m very happy that we were part of this landmark programme,” she added.

A landmark success story

The Indian Tigers and Tigresses campaign – the world’s biggest football talent hunt programme for age groups of 12-14 and 15-17 categories – was launched in April 2024 and concluded with 28 footballers realising their football dream.

From an eye-watering 50,000 registrations, 10,000 participants were selected for the regional trials, but only 28 football gems were handpicked for a special training programme in Austria and Germany.

The talented kids received a historic send-off from prime minister Narendra Modi, who blessed the initiative at the What India Thinks Today (WITT) Summit in New Delhi on March 28.

TV9 CEO & MD Barun Das, the brain behind the landmark initiative, during the WITT summit, expressed faith in the young guns and said: When we launched the Indian Tigers and Tigresses, I was inspired by Swami Vivekananda, who said, “You’ll be nearer to the Heaven through football than through the study of Gita”.

Under the TV9 Network’s one-of-a-kind initiative, the young kids got the opportunity of a lifetime to train with European kids under the supervision of world-class coaches.

 The landmark football talent hunt programme, which was launched last year, Concluded with a bang as the young champs returned home on Mondayafter a dream-come-true trip to Europe, which culminated with a visit to German top-flight club VFB Stuttgart.

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