Meghalaya footballer Ibaihun Kurbah dies at 20 after battling kidney failure

Guwahati: Ibaihun Kurbah, a young and promising footballer from Meghalaya, passed away early on Monday at a hospital in Guwahati after a long battle with kidney problems.

She was 20.

Kurbah, popularly known as Iba, hailed from Mairang in Eastern West Khasi Hills and had represented Meghalaya in several All India Football Federation (AIFF) tournaments.

Known for her speed and determination, she was also a state-level champion runner before dedicating herself to football.

Her career came to an abrupt halt earlier this year when she was diagnosed with end-stage kidney failure. Despite undergoing dialysis twice a week and public appeals for a transplant donor, her condition worsened. Civil society groups and well-wishers had rallied to support her treatment, but sadly, she could not be saved.

The Meghalaya Football Association expressed grief over her untimely demise, stating:
"The Meghalaya Football Association mourns the loss of Ibaihun Kurbah, a promising young goalkeeper who represented the state with pride. Her passing is a deep blow to the sporting community. We stand with her family and pray for her eternal peace."

Tributes also poured in from the wider sporting fraternity, remembering her as a determined fighter both on and off the field.