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Ex-Mohun Bagan captain Shibdas Bhaduri’s family to get 1st U17 World Cup ticket
The FIFA U-17 World Cup tickets will be made available from 19:11 hours on May 16, as a tribute to what was a historic achievement when Mohun Bagan beat East Yorkshire Regiment 2-1 to win the IFA Shield on July 29 in 1911.
The first ticket of the under-17 World Cup will go to a relative of the captain of the Mohun Bagan team that became the first Indian side to win the IFA Shield. To Gauri Bhaduri, grand daughter-in-law of the 1911 Mohun Bagan captain Shibdas Bhaduri, that honour will be bestowed.
As it is, the tickets will be made available from 19:11 hours on May 16, as a tribute to what was a historic achievement when Mohun Bagan beat East Yorkshire Regiment 2-1 to win the IFA Shield on July 29 that year. The day is celebrated as Mohun Bagan Day by the 128-year-old club.
Read | Mohun Bagan’s Sony Norde received ‘false cheques’ on Man of the Match awards
FIFA Legend and World Cup Winner with Spain, Carles Puyol will be in India to promote the ticket sales for the U-17 World Cup that will be held from October 6-28.
“My heart, my soul, my life, everything is surrounded by Mohun Bagan. I can’t express how happy I am. I am just a normal citizen but it was my greatest fortune to get married in this family which has such a great heritage. I’m overwhelmed. Today, whatever honour I get, whatever limelight our family gets, are all because of that great man who led the Mohun Bagan side to the pages of history. It’s a huge honour to get the first ticket of FIFA U17 World Cup,” Gouri Bhaduri was quoted as saying by the sports website Xtra Time on Friday.
Read | Carles Puyol to visit India for launch of FIFA U-17 World Cup ticket sales
On May 15, Gouri Bhaduri, will be handed over the first ticket by Puyol and Vijay Goel, union minister for sports, according to a media release on Friday. The ceremonial ticket would allow her family to attend any of the matches that take place across the six host cities, according to the release.
Project Director of the Local Organising Committee for the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017, Joy Bhattacharjya said: “On the most significant moment in Indian football, it is amazing to remember where the journey started - with Mohun Bagan’s historic win in 1911. This is the start of what we would like to believe – the second revolution in Indian football.”
