Picked from close to 6,500 Under-15 footballers around the country in the Tata Tea Jaago Re Inter Milan Soccer Stars programme, Delhi boy Praneet Purohit is on Cloud Nine.
He joins 15 others from around India, with sizeable contingents from Shillong and Kolkata who will go on to represent India at a youth tournament in Milan later in the year.
The boys were picked after an initial 37 were short-listed from 15 locations around India over five months by a panel including programme head scout Jamshed Nassiri, himself a player of note on the Kolkata Maidan.
Praneet, a student of the Father Agnel School in Noida, is the only player from Delhi. A quick look at the budding star:
Hobbies: Listening to music, playing guitar
Programme experience: Cery happy to get the opportunity to live and play with players from all over India
On being selected for the Milan trip: Am an ardent follower of Inter Milan and look forward to making this trip
Club/team: City Football Club, Delhi
Dream career: I wants to continue playing and become a professional player for Arsenal
Keen to meet … Lionel Messi.