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.
Read more of this feat by this 11 year old in a report published in The Times of India....
