Manisha Kalyan becomes first Indian to compete in UEFA Women's Champions League
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New Delhi: Manisha Kalyan, a young striker made her UEFA Women's Champions League debut with Apollon Ladies FC in the European Club competition in Engomi, Cyprus. She is the first football player from India to play in the elite women's league.
At the Makareio Stadium, Marilena Georgiou of Cyprus was replaced by Kalyan in the 60th minute as Apollon Ladies FC defeated Latvian first division team SFK Riga 3-0 in their UWCL opener on Thursday.
When the 20-year-old signed a multi-year contract with Cypriot first division champion Apollon Ladies, she became the fourth Indian women's international football player to sign for an overseas club.
For the national team and Gokulam Kerala in the Indian Women's League (IWL), Kalyan put on spectacular displays.
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.