Kashmir's Suhail Bhatt rated among 60 top footballers in the world

Story by ATV | Posted by Aasha Khosa | Date 29-09-2022

Suhail Bhat, Footballer from Kashmir (Twitter ITWF)

Malick Asghar Hashmi/New Delhi

Suhail Ahmed Bhat, the 17-year-old footballer from Kashmir, who is emerging as the country's second Sunil Chhetri, has found his name in The Guardian's coveted list of 60 best young talents of world football.

Suhail Ahmed Bhat currently represents Indian Arrows Football Club. This hardworking striker is recognized as one of the brightest talents in Kashmir. He has a great fan following. He is rated as a very agile and confident player. The club was formed by the All India Football Federation in 2010, with the main goal of nurturing young Indian football talents.

Suhail made his international debut in 2021 while playing in India's Under-16s against the United Arab Emirates. According to The Guardian, this 17-year-old player has all the qualities to become the successor of great Indian footballer Sunil Chhetri.

Born on 8 April 2005, Suhail plays as a forward for the Indian Arrows. In 2017, Bhat attended agh a football camp in Srinagar to join the Khel Parishad Football Academy.

Suhail Bhatt's name in the Guardian's list of 60 top world footballers

According to Suhail's Wikipedia page, he was first selected for the Indian national under-16 football team in 2021.

Suhail Bhat has always dreamed of representing India on the international stage. At the same time, he is also interested in pursuing his studies. After his selection for the Indian team, he was anxious about missing his studies.

Bhat’s name comes along with those of Melbourne City FC, MX Capoto from Australia, Faalmenga FC, and Matthias Goncalves from Brazil. Martin Georgiev of Barcelona FC.

Bhat is a class 10 student of Shah-e-Hamdan Educational Institute in Bemina, Srinagar. He has always been good at his studies.

Suhail Bhatt

Suhail Bhat says he is serious about his studies. His coach Sajid Dar says Suhail is keen to continue his studies while playing football. Dar is the Honorary Technical Director of the Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council Football Academy.

Dar says Suhail was selected during the talent hunt organized by the Sports Council in the camps set across 22 districts of Jammu and Kashmir in 2017.

As his performance was good, Mehrajuddin Wadoo, a former international player and Dar, in charge of the academy, decided to promote him and include him in the Under-15. About a year later, he was on the Under-18 team.

Dar said Suhail will go a long way. It is said that Suhail always tries to find spaces behind the opponents' backs with his right foot during the match.