On Friday, Nathania John from Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu became India’s first-ever ball-girl at a World Cup. She led the Brazil team on to the field for their Group E encounter against Costa Rica at St. Petersburg.
Earlier, on June 18, Rishi Tej a 10-year-old boy carried the ball to the field for the game between Belgium & Panama to become India’s first-ever ball-boy at a World Cup.
Under the FIFA Official Match Ball Carriers (OMBC) programme, 64 school kids from various countries, including 2 from India, get this opportunity once in a life to only watch a World Cup match but actually walk alongside with some of the biggest players in world football.
Nathania John is an 11-year-old girl who makes it to the top after beating competition from 50 boys & impressing everyone with her footballing skills in the campaign which was organised by KIA Motors, FIFA’s official partner.