'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Archive photo from the Australian Red Bull Street Style National Final at Bondi Icebergs Pool Sydney in 2009. ( Getty Images)
India’s best street footballers from Chennai, Kolkata, Delhi and Mumbai gathered in Mumbai at the Orbit Mall in Malad for the Red Bull Street Style National finals 2013. The footballers treated Mumbaikars to a whole host of tricks and flicks as they paid witness to the live contest between the country’s finest freestyle footballers.
The winner in the end was Krishna Limbu from Kolkata. The contestants were judged by Kotaro Tokuda – ‘Tokura’, 2012 Red Bull Street Style World Champion, Indian national football team goalkeeper Subrata Paul and Bollywood choreographer Gaiti Nair. The finalists were judged on their ability to show variety of tricks, display ball control, individual technique and style.
Four players from each of the cities mentioned above were chosen after a round of qualifiers. This group of players were then invited to the final in Mumbai. Kotaro Tokuda also showcased his skills at the event.
Tokuda had this to say about the contestants: “This is my second time in India and I am thrilled to be here. The style and technique I witnessed here is very different from that in Japan. I saw some very powerful performances today. Krishna has very good control and amazing style and Pradeep and Archis too performed well. I feel that with a bit more grooming, these guys will become world-class freestylers!”
The winner, Krishna Limbu, along with the five most promising freestylers will get a chance to train with Tokuda himself at a free-styling clinic at Powai, Mumbai between 28th-30th July 2013. Krishna will also represent India at the Red Bull Street Style World Final in Japan in September.
