CHANDIGARH: Twelve-year-old Tanvi Bhargava has returned home with rich experience after leading the Indian team in the Asian Football Confederation Under-13 Football Festival in Ho Chi Minh City of Vietnam last week.

“Being festival, non-competitive matches were conducted besides testing skills, which included juggling, long pass, short pass and shooting,” said Tanvi. Talking confidently to mediapersons at her residence in Sector 8 here, talented Tanvi Bhargava said “we practiced hard and  we implemented those things which were told by our coaches during the camp.”

Asked whether she was satisfied with her role as captain of the Indian team, Tanvi, who has joined Mayo School of Ajmer to improve her skills, said “my personal performance was good. It was a team work. Responsibilities were tough but I enjoyed these with getting full cooperation from my colleagues and the  officials accompanying the team.”

Giving rating to the India ’s performance, Tanvi said “we were awarded 24 green cards, one less than the winners China who got 25. I will rate Indian girls showing as 8 out of 10.”

As many as 150 girls took part in the first ever U-13 Girls Festival of Football. Players from Vietnam , China , India , Japan , Korea Republic , Myanmar and Singapore took part in football activities at the Thanh Long Sports Complex.

“I am getting support from all, my coaches, school, Chandigarh Football Association. Without the support of my family, I would have not achieved what I have done today. I know it is just the beginning. I have to work hard to achieve my goal to captain the senior Indian team in international tournaments.”

Impressed with her performance as a player as well as captain, Tanvi was informed about her selection in the Under-17 team though the CFA has not received any communication so far in this regard from the All India Football Federation.

CFA secretary Rakesh Bakshi said that with Tanvi getting success, more girls would nowbe attracted towards football. The CFA has already opened coaching centres for men (at SD Public School, Sector 24) and for women (at Dev Samaj College , Sector 45). Training provided at these centres is free of cost.

As Tanvi did Chandigarh proud, the CFA will soon honour Tanvi Bhargava at a function after consultation with the association president Venod Sharma.

Well done Tanvi. Keep it up.