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The Indian ladies’s soccer group striker Bala Devi feels that the upcoming FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in 2022 will herald a contemporary change in Indian dad and mom’ mindset about motivating their daughters to embrace the game. In one other effort to take Indian soccer ahead, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) is on the cusp of internet hosting the second FIFA World Cup in 5 years in India. The 30-year-old striker feels that it’ll assist the nation shine on a world stage. “Earlier, we didn’t see many girls play football. Now the numbers have gone up significantly. In the FIFA U-17 World Cup, more girls from various countries will come to India and our girls will get an opportunity to rub shoulders with the world’s best. That will help change the overall mindset,” the Rangers Women FC ahead defined throughout an AIFF TV chat.
“It (World Cup) will make India shine brighter. All the boys who played in FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2017 are competing in the top tier league now. I believe it will be a great opportunity for our girls to get noticed internationally, let alone in India,” she added.
She even recalled how she was criticised for taking part in soccer however her father, who himself was a state-level footballer, defied criticism to assist her attain her dream of being a footballer.
“I used to play with the local boys initially. Many people started talking about my playing and started criticising me. My father was a footballer and he used to motivate me always. Even today, he is my go-to person for any kind of football query, however silly it may be,” stated the 30-year-old.
“He taught me to think about football 24/7 and even sleep with a ball in the bed. Sometimes, I even kicked in the middle of sleep and that’s how the passion grew within me.
“I’d request all of the dad and mom to encourage and again their youngsters to allow them to attain their dream,” she added.
Praful Patel, AIFF president, and Kiren Rijiju, India’s sports minister interacted with the current U-17 Women’s National team and laid down a detailed plan for the days to come.
Bala lauded the efforts to strengthen the resolve of the young footballers.
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“Patel sir has at all times labored onerous to raise Indian soccer within the continent. Earning the internet hosting rights of the U-17 World Cup for women and men has put India in an admirable place within the continent however,” said Devi.
“His plans for the present U-17 batch underlines the long-term planning of AIFF for ladies’s soccer and I wish to sincerely thank Praful sir for his fixed help to ladies’s soccer,” she added.
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