Two of the trainees, Swati and Monica, represented India in the under-18 hockey Asia Cup held in China last month. The academy's girls' hockey team won the National School Games tourney in 2008.

The students are selected from all parts of northern India, depending on their performances in district level tournaments.

On the selection procedure, Sidhu said: 'The district level selection teams in Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh are asked to pick up children in the age group of 9-10 (boys) and 13-14 (girls).'

The shortlisted children go through rigorous final tests and medical examination in Chandigarh on the basis of guidelines set by the Sports Authority of India (SAI).

'We always maintain a certain standard of performance in our academy and many times non-performers have been sent back to their homes. At present the total strength of the academy is 120,' said Sidhu.

To provide the trainees advanced coaching in football for five years' an MoU was also signed with the Sports School, Leipzig (Germany), in 2007. So far, four groups have been sent there.

'We have also decided to tie up with the hockey organisations of New Zealand, Holland, Germany and Malaysia to provide specialised training and exposure to both boys and girls of our hockey academy,' added Sidhu.

The trainees, many of whom are from families that cannot afford to spend a lot of money on sports facilities, are thrilled with the opportunity.

'I am very happy to become a part of this academy, it is just like my second home. Here everything is very disciplined and I hope to represent my country's team in the football world cup one day,' 11-year-old Kamalpreet Singh said.

Swati from the girls' hockey academy said: 'After joining this academy we have become more focussed in life. The best thing about this academy is that studies and sports go hand in hand and we cannot ignore either. I pray that more such academies will come up all across the country to help budding talent.'

(Alkesh Sharma can be contacted at alkesh.s@ians.in)