By Soumo Ghosh,
AIFF Media Team

NEW DELHI: India is a country rife with quality Goalkeepers. From experienced customers like Subrata Paul to senior National Team star Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, to right down to India’s FIFA U17 World Cup India 2017 hero -- Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem, the goalposts in the country seem to be in secure hands.

With this vast array of talents already in the pool, another young blue tiger seems to be coming up the ranks, waiting to pounce and thwart any attempts made towards his citadel. Meet Niraj Kumar, India U-16 National Team Goalkeeper, currently in Kuala Lumpur for the forthcoming AFC U-16 Championship Malaysia 2018.

Hailing from the northern state of Punjab, Niraj finds inspiration from fellow Punjabi keeper Amrinder Singh who has represented a number of top clubs in India like Bengaluru FC, Mumbai City FC and ATK, and has also played for the Senior National Team.

However, it was not always about keeping the ball on the other side of the goal-line for Niraj. In fact, when he was in the 10th standard, the youngster was shown the proverbial ‘red card’ from school.

“One day, after I came back from school, they called up my parents, complaining that I never cared to,” said Niraj. “When I said that I wanted to play football, I was told, ‘Tu school mat aya kar’ (you need not come to school).”

Niraj is yet another in the long line of Indian football players who are from humble backgrounds. However, it was his father, who works as a driver, who first introduced him to the beautiful game.

“When I was a kid, my dad used to take me to football tournaments in the locality,” said Niraj. “I started off as a Goalkeeper and have never looked back.”

Niraj’s story is one that inspires hope among kids who want to pursue a career in sports. Even as India inches its way towards being a sporting powerhouse, this young goalkeeper’s struggle with academics, followed by his subsequent success under the bar is sure to inspire many more after him.