Ahmedabad, April 29 (IANS) With an aim to bring significant contributions towards indigenous sports like Kabaddi, Ram Mehar Singh - coach of the Adani Gujarat Giants in the Pro Kabaddi League, strongly believes that the 'Little Giants' programme could be a gamechanger.

He also feels that such programmes are essential to elevating the profile of the sport in the state and a great tool to connect with grassroots talent.

Talking about the importance of undertaking such initiatives, Ram Mehar Singh said, "It is time that we make Kabaddi a big sport in Gujarat and programmes like Little Giants, which commenced last year, can help us drive this narrative to a wider audience. And for the Little Giants to compete with big names like the Maharashtra Kabaddi Club and the Haryana academies, we must create more awareness. Another pivotal aspect of this programme is hoping that the state produces more professional Kabaddi players. This is a great initiative by the Adani Gujarat Giants."

The Little Giants programme is currently running across four major cities, namely, Ahmedabad, Surat, Baroda, and Rajkot. Soon, the team will be holding player trials across the state which will help them to create a buzz about the game and it will also pique an interest among people.

The process of becoming a good sportsman begins at an early age, especially when children are in school and hence the team feels that encouraging school children will enable the initiative to elevate the profile of the sport.

The second season of the Little Giants programme is all set to begin soon. In the inaugural edition, more than 3,000 kids from over 224 schools across Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, and Rajkot participated. The numbers are expected to increase in the upcoming editions.

Quizzed about what are some of the measures that need to be taken to ensure that these children perform well, Singh suggests, "We have to ensure that the kids selected for higher training in the programme are well looked after, maintain a healthy diet and can balance their studies and practice sessions. Kits and other necessary infrastructure should be provided to them."

He also further added, "The coach also needs to be attuned with each kid to help them perform well. The Adani Sportsline team has done a fabulous job to bring in a world-class setup for these kids. Nurturing kids through this programme can help us put up at the national level, making everyone and our country proud."

Mumbai: Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) franchise U Mumba on Friday appointed Suhail Chandhok as their new CEO.

As per Unilazer Ventures Pvt. Ltd - the owners of U Mumba, Chandhok will oversee the management and development of the PKL season 2 champions.

"We are delighted to welcome Suhail to the U Mumba family, joining as CEO. From being a professional sportsman and a respected figure in the sporting landscape, to his extensive knowledge of the ecosystem of Kabaddi and other sports in the country, Suhail will undoubtedly be a valuable asset to the company," said Ronnie Screwvala, U Mumba team owner, in a media release.

"I am looking forward to working with him to deliver on our plans for U Mumba in our 10th year of the franchise and beyond," he added.

Hailing from three generations of sports, Suhail brings over a decade of experience in the world of sports and entertainment. He has been a professional cricketer and a renowned sports presenter as well.

"U Mumba is a franchise with a rich legacy, known for its fantastic team culture and I look forward to building on the vision that's been created and all the success so far. As a franchise that represents the City of Dreams, I'd love for our franchise to remain a team that players aspire to represent and we hope our team culture always reflects that, as we create an environment where players get to express themselves & come away as more complete players and individuals," said Chandhok.

"U Mumba has always unearthed, nurtured and promoted some of the best young sporting talent and I'm thankful to the management and Ronnie for the responsibility of carrying that legacy forward as we enter a new, exciting chapter for this team," he added.

The 35 year old, who has been involved in sporting entities such as the IPL, PKL, Indian Super League, Premier Badminton League, Hockey India League and the Yuva Kabaddi Series amongst others, will take on responsibilities with immediate effect.

(IANS)