Nikita Bishi : A Child Football Prodigy of Barpali

Nikita Bishi is a student of Class 10^th of Govt. Girls High School of Barpali. Ever since she was eight years old she is playing football in her village Kadlipali. Initially she was inspired while watching the boys to play football on the playground. At Barpali sports is something which is subject to male dominance. In this region of Odisha the movement of girls are strictly restricted within the four corners of their home. Under the mentorship of coach Sampurna Bhoi she started playing football. It is a game that needs mental toughness. It causes enormous physical exhaustion. Nikita learnt the intricate techniques that are involved to play this game. Over the years with enormous practice she outperformed her colleagues in this sport. During April 2016 Nikita went to play football at Tajikistan in AFC Under-14 Girls’ Regional Championship 2016. She went on an all expenses paid trip to Dushanbe the capital city of Tajikistan. In the Team India she occupied the position of main striker at Left Forward.

[Nikita is the 5th seating girl from left on the first row at Tajkisthan]

[Dilip Bishi the father of Nikita in the liquor distillery]

Now you would be thinking Nikita might be a daughter of a sports coach to acquire the skills that are needed to reach an international tournament. But one would be dumbstruck to discover the father of Nikita to be a vendor of ground-nuts, eggs and other sundry items at Modbhati (local liquor distillery) of Barpali. Her father Dilip Bishi has under taken possibly the worst vocation available on this earth. From morning 6.00AM to night 11.00PM Dilip operates his business while every moment bruised by the drunkards. In life Dilip Bishi never travelled beyond Cuttack in Odisha, where as his daughter Nikita caught a flight and went overseas.

[Niketa Bishi along with her coach Sampurna Bhoi]
It is to be noted Dilip Bishi and his family belongs to Sanhara caste. She is a Schedule Tribe (ST) hence economically backward. Their ancestors were dwelling in the forests of Odisha. This girl Nikita Bishi needs adequate financial support to hone her skills in playing football. She seeks a sponsorship either from any individual or corporate to support her interest in sports. She can be reached at her Cell # 91-99-372-49680. She could speak either Oriya or Hindi, but no English. She is not computer literate so no email id. In case you want to forward any help you may communicate with this writer at the given below email id.