Baichung Bhutia heaps praise on PM Narendra Modi for support to Indian football

New Delhi: With less than 100 days left for the biggest ever footballing extravaganza to happen in India - the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017 -- iconic footballer Bhaichung Bhutia thanked and lavished huge praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his "continuous support to Indian Football."

"The honourable Prime Minister's passion for sports is really admirable," Bhutia said a day after Prime Minister Modi met Indian sporting legends during the inauguration of a Stadium in Ahmedabad.

"The Prime Minister has been possibly the biggest supporter of the FIFA U-17 World Cup. He has been standing beside Indian Football all throughout and it's such an inspiration for the footballing fraternity," Bhutia, the first Indian footballer to play over 100 International matches stated.

"I thanked him for promoting Indian Football. The Prime Minister assured me of his continued support for the U-17 World Cup adding that he will continue supporting Football even after the World Cup ends," he added.

The Prime Minister also made a special mention of the Indian football legend bringing laurels to the country.

In addition, Prime Minister Modi has several times in his address to the nation, 'Mann ki Baat,' acknowledged the increase of the popularity of Football in India and has called for the creation of right atmosphere for its development.

The FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 is slated to be kick-off on October 6 with the official draw scheduled to take place in Mumbai on July 7.