Manisha Kalyan becomes first Indian to play in UEFA Women’s Champions League

By PTI

NEW DELHI: Young striker Manisha Kalyan has become the first Indian footballer to play at the UEFA Women’s Champions League when she made her debut for Apollon Ladies FC in the European Club competition in Engomi, Cyprus.

Kalyan replaced Cyprus’ Marilena Georgiou in the 60th minute at the Makareio Stadium, as Apollon Ladies FC beat Latvian top flight club SFK Riga 3-0 in their UWCL opener on Thursday.

The 20-year-old had emerged as the fourth Indian women’s international footballer to sign for an overseas club when she landed a multi-year contract with Cypriot top division winners Apollon Ladies.

Kalyan had produced impressive performances for the national team and Gokulam Kerala in the Indian Women’s League (IWL).

We congratulate #BlueTigresses attacker @ManishaKalyan4, who made her UEFA Women’s Champions League debut with @AppollonLadiesFC against SFK Riga in the qualifiers last night

Many more steps to go #ShePower #IndianFootball pic.twitter.com/LaERCWegKb

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) August 19, 2022

She was recently awarded the AIFF Women’s Footballer of the Year for the 2021-22 season.

Kalyan had shot to fame last year when she scored against former World Cup runners-up Brazil in their own den during an international friendly.

Kalyan is the second player from Gokulam Kerala to sign for an overseas club after Dangmei Grace joined Uzbek outfit FC Nasaf.

Apollon Ladies will next play FC Zurich Frauen on August 21.

<br /> NEW DELHI: Young striker Manisha Kalyan has become the first Indian footballer to play at the UEFA Women’s Champions League when she made her debut for Apollon Ladies FC in the European Club competition in Engomi, Cyprus.</p> <p>Kalyan replaced Cyprus’ Marilena Georgiou in the 60th minute at the Makareio Stadium, as Apollon Ladies FC beat Latvian top flight club SFK Riga 3-0 in their UWCL opener on Thursday.</p> <p>The 20-year-old had emerged as the fourth Indian women’s international footballer to sign for an overseas club when she landed a multi-year contract with Cypriot top division winners Apollon Ladies.</p> <p>Kalyan had produced impressive performances for the national team and Gokulam Kerala in the Indian Women’s League (IWL).</p> <!-- WP QUADS Content Ad Plugin v. 2.0.86.1 --> <div class="quads-location quads-ad843 " id="quads-ad843" style="float:none;margin:0px 3px 3px 3px;padding:0px 0px 0px 0px;" data-lazydelay="0"> <!-- WP QUADS - Quick AdSense Reloaded v.2.0.86.1 Content AdSense async --> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block;" data-ad-format="auto" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7550963679842137" data-ad-slot="4374041191"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});</script> <!-- end WP QUADS --> </div> <p>We congratulate #BlueTigresses attacker @ManishaKalyan4, who made her UEFA Women’s Champions League debut with @AppollonLadiesFC against SFK Riga in the qualifiers last night<br /> Many more steps to go #ShePower #IndianFootball pic.twitter.com/LaERCWegKb<br /> — Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) August 19, 2022<br /> She was recently awarded the AIFF Women’s Footballer of the Year for the 2021-22 season.</p> <p>Kalyan had shot to fame last year when she scored against former World Cup runners-up Brazil in their own den during an international friendly.</p> <p>Kalyan is the second player from Gokulam Kerala to sign for an overseas club after Dangmei Grace joined Uzbek outfit FC Nasaf.</p> <p>Apollon Ladies will next play FC Zurich Frauen on August 21.<br />