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Eleven-year-old Nathania John K from Tamil Nadu today became India's first FIFA ball girl when she led Brazil on to the field in their game against Costa Rica at Arena St Petersburg.
That is, Nathania, who hails from the Nilgiris and is a footballer herself, became the first Indian girl to be an Official Match Ball Carrier (OMBC). A class six student of
Rishi Valley School in Chitoor, Andhra Pradesh, Nathania got the opportunity to travel to the FIFA World Cup after winning a contest organised by FIFA sponsor KIA. She was selected as
OBMC along-with a 10-year-old boy Rishi Tej, who hails from Karnataka. "I am still in a daze. It is very unusual for an Indian to participate in the World Cup," said
Nathania to TOI before she left for Russia. Still, the aspiring footballer is confident enough to know why she was selected. "I play as a centre forward for my senior school
team. So, I was at ease when they asked me (during the KIA contest) to show my dribbling, juggling and penalty shooting skills. I have seen that girls don't play much
football in India," said Nathania. The 11-year-old girl is thrilled, of course, but there is one thing that was disappointing for her. She's a fanatic Lionel Messi supporter, but she's not
going to be a ball carrier in an Argentine game. Worse, Argentina and Messi have been having a horrendous run at this World Cup so far; the team was thrashed 3-0
by Croatia Still, Nathania is a fan of the 'Barcelona', the football club that Brazil's Neymar was with until last August, so she would have been happy to meet him. And
there's another Barcelona sensation in the Brazil team - Philippe Coutinho - whom she got to meet. "I was sad when Neymar left Barcelona. But now that I will get a
That is, Nathania, who hails from the Nilgiris and is a footballer herself, became the first Indian girl to be an Official Match Ball Carrier (OMBC). A class six student of
Rishi Valley School in Chitoor, Andhra Pradesh, Nathania got the opportunity to travel to the FIFA World Cup after winning a contest organised by FIFA sponsor KIA. She was selected as
OBMC along-with a 10-year-old boy Rishi Tej, who hails from Karnataka. "I am still in a daze. It is very unusual for an Indian to participate in the World Cup," said
Nathania to TOI before she left for Russia. Still, the aspiring footballer is confident enough to know why she was selected. "I play as a centre forward for my senior school
team. So, I was at ease when they asked me (during the KIA contest) to show my dribbling, juggling and penalty shooting skills. I have seen that girls don't play much
football in India," said Nathania. The 11-year-old girl is thrilled, of course, but there is one thing that was disappointing for her. She's a fanatic Lionel Messi supporter, but she's not
going to be a ball carrier in an Argentine game. Worse, Argentina and Messi have been having a horrendous run at this World Cup so far; the team was thrashed 3-0
by Croatia Still, Nathania is a fan of the 'Barcelona', the football club that Brazil's Neymar was with until last August, so she would have been happy to meet him. And
there's another Barcelona sensation in the Brazil team - Philippe Coutinho - whom she got to meet. "I was sad when Neymar left Barcelona. But now that I will get a
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