New Delhi. Young striker Manisha Kalyan became the first Indian footballer to play in the UEFA Women’s Champions League, making her debut for Apollo Ladies FC in the European club tournament in Cyprus. Kalyan came on for Cyprus’ Marilena Georgiou in the 60th minute. Apollo Ladies FC defeated Latvia’s top club SFK Riga 3-0.
Twenty-year-old Kalyan is the fourth Indian woman to sign a contract with a foreign club. She performed well for the national team and for Gokulam Kerala in the Indian Women’s League. She was also named the AIFF Best Women’s Footballer in 2021-22.
Kalyan made headlines by scoring a goal against Brazil in an international friendly match in Brazil itself. Now the Apollo team will face FC Zurich Frauen on 21 August.
FIRST PUBLISHED : August 19, 2022, 13:19 IST