Class X girl brings laurels for Vadodara

Vadodara: The Gujarat Under-17 team recently made a history when it became the first team to make it to the semi-finals of All India Football Federation’s U-17 National Football Championships in last 57 years. And, Ishita Mankotia, a Barodian, brought laurels to the city as she was a member of the team. A class X student, Ishita was one of the key players in the tournament played at Kolhapur between April 20 and April 30.
“I took to football when I was in class V as my school was preparing a football team. After playing a few matches, I developed interest in the sport and decided to pursue it professionally,” 15-year-old Ishita, who plays in left back position, said. And, she began the journey to become a professional footballer.
“I used to practice in the school for hours either in morning or evening. It was in 2017 that I played my first Under-14 national tournament and I never looked back,” Ishita, who plays for Baroda Football Academy, told TOI.
She went on to participate in two national tournaments organized by School Games Federation of India (SGFI) and one by All India Football Federation (AIFF) apart from 10 state-level tourneys.
While Ishita’s powerful kick and stamina is her strength, she says that her instinct to anticipate the moves by the rival team too helps her a lot in performing well on the ground. Interestingly, she is one of the rare footballers who kicks the ball with her left foot. She is a fan of Neymar and follows Barca club.
“We had spotted the talent in her when she began playing. Ishita doesn’t just have good stamina but also is a quick learner,” said Hanif Ginwala, president of Baroda District Football Association. Apart from Ishita, three girls were selected from the city for the nationals but they couldn’t participate in the tournament.