An urge to give their best in football has taken Manisha Kalyan miles ahead as she becomes the first Indian women player to participate in UEFA Women's Champions League representing Apollon Ladies FC. An a-20-year-old woman from Hoshiarpur, Punjab played her first match for Apollon as a substitute player on August 18, 2022.
Apollon Ladies are Women's Club champions of Cyprus, based out of Limassol, the capital city of the island nation. They are taking part in the UEFA Women's Champions League Qualification Round. They beat Riga SFK of Latvia in their first match and would now play Zurich FC. A win could take them to Round 2 of the Qualification and from thereon to the main draw. Manisha hogged the limelight when she scored a goal against Brazil in an international friendly in Manaus.
Manisha Kalyan made her international debut at the age of just 17 back in 2019 in a friendly game in Hong Kong. She was a part of the Indian side at the 2019 SAFF Championship which was held in Nepal in March. Manisha was the youngest member of the squad and scored one goal in the competition.
Before joining Apollon Ladies FC, Manisha played for Gokulam Kerala FC in the Indian Women's League (IWL) for three seasons.
Manisha was chosen as the Women's Player of the Year by AIFF for the 2021-22 season. For her brilliant goal against Brazil, four goals in four games for India and a total of 14 goals in 11 appearances for Gokulam Kerala FC in the Indian Women's League.
While speaking with Sports Champ, Manisha Kalyan opened up about how she is eager to take the name of India on the football map.
What was on your mind when you decided to join Apollon Ladies FC?
This story is from the September 2022 edition of Sports Champ.
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This story is from the September 2022 edition of Sports Champ.
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