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Today is the birthday of India’s great footballer Bhaichung Bhutia (December 15). He was born on this day in the year 1975 in Tinkitam, Sikkim. He was well known for his shooting skills. For this reason he is known as ‘Sikkimi sniper’. At the same time, the famous Indian player IM Vijayan has given the title of “God’s gift to Indian football” to Bhutia. He is famous all over the world for his brilliant game. (Photo Credits: Baichung Bhutia Instagram)
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For Bhaichung Bhutia, football was his love. He was very fond of football from a young age and this attachment made him the best player in India. At the age of just 11, Baichung got the Sai Scholarship for Football from Tashi Nangyal Academy (Gangtok).
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Baichung started his football career with East Bengal Club. Where he spent four rounds in the I-League football team.
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Bhutia joined English club Buri in 1999, becoming only the second Indian to do so, who played professional football in Europe.
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You can assess Baichung’s talent from the fact that Bhutia was awarded the ‘Golden Boot’ by scoring the most 9 goals in the LG Asian Club 2003.
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In 2010, he founded the Baichung Bhutia Football School in Delhi. In this he has a partnership with Carlos Queiroz and Nike.
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Bhaichung Bhutia’s international football titles include ‘Nehru Cup’, ‘LG Cup’, ‘SAFF Championship’ thrice and AFC Challenge Cup. He has won many medals including ‘Arjuna Award’ and ‘Padma Shri’.
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Bhutia is India’s most match-playing player. In 2009, he got his 100th cap while playing in the Nehru Cup, meaning it was his 100th match. He has achieved a total of 104 caps.
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Apart from football, Bhutia has also shown his talent on TV. He won the TV dance reality show ‘Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa’.
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Let us tell you that the stadium named after Bhaichung Bhutia is built in Namchi, which is at a distance of 25 km from the birthplace of the footballer.
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Bhutia retired from international football in August 2011.
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His last match was on 10 January 2012 between the Indian National Team and Byren Munik at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi.