Indian football team could have faced defeat in FIFA Under-17 World Cup against the USA in the first tournament but for an Odisha boy, who was felicitated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium before beginning of the historical match on Friday in New Delhi.
Babul Sandil, an unknown face in Indian football, was the only participant from Odisha to receive World Cup Ball from Modi as an honour ahead of the FIFA event. He was among 11 players in the ‘Mission 11 Million’ programme to have been recognised for boosting football among schoolchildren.Babul’s sports teacher Ashok Patro was also part of the memorable moment visiting New Delhi.
Subham Sarangi from Odisha could have been disqualified to enter FIFA U-17 World Cup, but Babul brought glory for the State for his excellent performance in the Mission 11 Million tournaments.
With the achievement, Babul, a Class-X student at the IRC Village Boys’ High School in Bhubaneswar, is going to inspire the tribal community in the coastal Odisha.
Born to lakhman Sandil and Gita, Babul created his own identity at a very little age in world of football after participating in the Mission 11 Million programme launched by the Centre to polularise and promote football, taking the game to 12,000 schools in 37 cities across India.