From Ball Boy to Blue Tigers’ Doorstep: J&K’s Suhail Ahmad Bhat Draws Inspiration from Chhetri, Ronaldo

Suhail Ahmad Bhat’s journey from being a ball boy at a local exhibition match to training with India’s national football team—the Blue Tigers—is nothing short of inspirational.

The 20-year-old from Bemina, Srinagar, fondly recalls his role as a ball boy during a 2019 exhibition match between an Indian XI and the Jammu and Kashmir All Stars team at Srinagar’s floodlit TRC ground. The game featured Indian football legends such as Bhaichung Bhutia, Renedy Singh, and J&K’s own former international Mehrajuddin Wadoo.

“I was behind Amrinder Singh paaji’s goalpost as a ball boy then. Today, I’m training alongside him on the same pitch,” Suhail said, highlighting the remarkable progress he has made.

Suhail credits his idols—India’s all-time leading scorer Sunil Chhetri and global superstar Cristiano Ronaldo—for fueling his ambition. His journey reflects the rising talent in Jammu and Kashmir and underscores the power of perseverance and passion in Indian football.

As he stands on the cusp of potentially representing the Blue Tigers, Suhail’s story inspires young athletes from the region to dream big and work hard.