The Modern India Podcast #79-From Barefoot drams to the Norway Cup

In this episode, we travel into the world of elite youth football with Minerva Academy — one of India’s most respected football academies, known for developing young talent through discipline, belief, and world-class training.

We meet Chetan Tiwari (14) from Minerva Academy U14, whose journey recently reached an international milestone at the Norway Cup — the world’s largest youth football tournament.

Minerva Academy’s U14 team emerged as champions, marking a proud moment not just for the academy, but for Indian grassroots football on a global stage.

Beyond the win, this episode is about:

• What it takes to compete internationally at a young age
• The unseen discipline behind success
• Family sacrifice, belief, and resilience
• How Indian youth football is finding its place globally

As Chetan shares, his journey is inseparable from his older brother — who gave up his own dream so Chetan could live his.