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India begin their campaign in the FIFA U-17 World Cup against the United States of America on the 6th of October. All eyes will be on those 11 teenagers on the field who, irrespective of the result, will create history. India's midfield cauldron will need to be at its best if the national team wants to spring a surprise in the group stages. One player who is crucial in linking the defence with the attack is Khumanthem Ninthoinganba.
The midfielder is one of India's most promising players and has high hopes rested on his shoulders. Ninthoinganba is another player selected in the World Cup squad from Mizoram, making the northeastern state proud with his footballing skills. A strong presence in the centre of the park, Ninthoinganba is definitely a player to watch out for.
On that note, let us take a look at the 10 things that need to be known about India's talented midfielder - Khumanthem Ninthoinganba:
#1 Ninthoi was born in Imphal, Manipur on July 13, 2001. He shares his birthday with his Indian U-17 teammate, Aniket Jadhav.
#2 The 16-year-old is a big fan of Cristiano Ronaldo.
#3 In Indian football, Ninthoi's favourite player is Sunil Chhetri.
#4 Ninthoi is a big fan of North East United and also follows Real Madrid in La Liga.
#5 The Manipuri midfielder is a brilliant Taekwondo player and used to play the sport before taking up football.
#6 Ninthoi is a big Bollywood buff with his favourite actor and actress being Shahrukh Khan and Preity Zinta.
#7 His favourite film is - "Kal Ho Na Ho."
#8 He loves Manipuri cuisine and also likes to hear Zara Larsson's songs.
#9 Ninthoinganba's favourite city is Madrid.
#10 The 16-year-old comes from a very modest background. His father is a farmer while his mother is a fish seller.
Ninthoi's composure and skills on the ball will be what India will bank on in their World Cup campaign. Should the Colts progress past the group stage, Ninthoi will be one of the cornerstones of the side.
Stay tuned to this series for more about the Indian team stars who will make the nation proud at the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017.
The FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017 will start on 6th October and the official broadcasters for the event in India are SONY TEN 2 and SONY TEN 3
