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On 14 December, a
state-level sports initiative titled ‘Project Mahadeva’ was launched by the
Government of Maharashtra in Mumbai.
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The initiative was
inaugurated under the leadership of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
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The project was
inaugurated at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai in the presence of global
football icon Lionel Messi, former Argentine players Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De
Paul.
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The event was also attended
by Bharat Ratna Sachin Tendulkar, Indian footballer Sunil Chhetri, Indian
football team captain Rahul Bheke, and several other dignitaries.
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Maharashtra Institution
for Transformation (MITRA), Village Social Transformation Foundation (VSTF),
WIFA, CIDCO and the Sports Department are partners in the project.
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The project aims to
identify football talent below 13 years of age across the state.
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Special focus has been
placed on developing high-quality football players through structured training.
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Scholarships and
world-class coaching from foreign trainers will be provided under the
initiative.
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A symbolic moment was
witnessed when Lionel Messi presented his signed Argentina jersey to Sunil
Chhetri.
