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India at FIFA Women's U-17 World Cup: Meet the squad

India U-17 national team players. Odisha Sports

India's maiden FIFA U17 Women's World Cup campaign kicks off on Tuesday, October 11 against the United States of America in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

Low on buzz, high on love: Odisha gears up for FIFA Women's U-17 World Cup

Meet the 21-member squad selected to represent India:


Kajol D'Souza, midfielder

State: Maharashtra
How she started playing football: "Started playing with my brother and his friends"
Playing experience: Parikrama FC (Karnataka Women's League), Maharashtra (National School Games), Pune (WIFA sub-junior district)
Favourite player(s): Sam Kerr, Manisha Kalyan
Best friend(s) in the team: Shubhangi, Lavanya
Favourite food: Masala dosa


Shubhangi Singh, defender

State: Uttar Pradesh
How she started playing football: "Started playing with my brother."
Playing experience: Gujarat team
Favourite player(s): Manisha Kalyan
Best friend(s) in the team: Kajol, Lavanya
Favourite food: Masala dosa


Kajol, defender

State: Haryana
How she started playing football: "Started playing with my elder sister"
Playing experience: Haryana, Hops club (Delhi)
Favourite player(s): Ashalata Devi
Best friend(s) in the team: Neha, Shailija
Favourite food: Finger chips


Lavanya Upadhyay, forward

State: Delhi
How she started playing football: "Started playing with friends in the colony and then eventually in school"
Playing experience: Delhi students FC, Signature FC
Favourite player(s): Manisha Kalyan, Alexia Putellas
Best friend(s) in the team: Shubangi, Kajol
Favourite food: Sushi


Anita Kumari, winger

State: Jharkhand
How she started playing football: -
Playing experience: Jharkhand team
Favourite player(s): Cristiano Ronaldo, Sunil Chhetri
Best friend(s) in the team: Nitu
Favourite food: Masala dosa


Sudha Ankita Tirkey, forward

State: Jharkhand
How she started playing football: "Watching boys"
Playing experience: St. Patricks school, Gumla
Favourite player(s): Bala Devi
Best friend(s) in the team: Purnima
Favourite food: Chicken


Neha, winger

State: Haryana
How she started playing football: "Started playing with my brother"
Playing experience: Haryana team, Hops club (Delhi)
Favourite player(s): Manisha Kalyan
Best friend(s) in the team: Kajal, Nitu, Shubhangi
Favourite food: Banana chips


Shailija, midfielder

State: Haryana
How she started playing football: -
Playing experience: Haryana team, Hindustan club (Delhi)
Favourite player(s): Sanju Yadav
Best friend(s) in the team: Varshika
Favourite food: Chicken chilli


Varshika, defender

State: Haryana
How she started playing football: -
Playing experience: Haryana team, Hops club (Delhi)
Favourite player(s): Sanju Yadav
Best friend(s) in the team: Shailija
Favourite food: Fish


Keisham Melody Chanu, goalkeeper

State: Manipur
How she started playing football: "Started with my friends"
Playing experience: Young Welfare Club (Manipur)
Favourite player(s): Precious Dede, Okram Roshni Chanu
Best friend(s) in the team: Mona
Favourite food: Eronba, Fish, Pork, Duck


Nitu Linda, midfielder

State: Jharkhand
How she started playing football: "Liked playing it as a kid"
Playing experience: Jharkhand state
Favourite player(s): Bala Devi
Best friend(s) in the team: Anita, Neha, Anjali
Favourite food: Dal Karela


Anjali Munda, goalkeeper

State: Jharkhand
How she started playing football: "Started playing in my village"
Playing experience: Jharkhand state
Favourite player(s): Aditi Chauhan
Best friend(s) in the team: Nitu, Anita, Melody, Astam
Favourite food: Biryani


Lisham Babina Devi, midfielder

State: Manipur
How she started playing football: "Started with my cousin and brother"
Playing experience: Young Welfare Club (Manipur)
Favourite player(s): Neymar, Bala Devi
Best friend(s) in the team: Linda
Favourite food: Pork


Naketa, defender

State: Haryana
How she started playing football: "Started watching my brother"
Playing experience: Himachal Pradesh team, Haryana team, Vinod Football Club (Haryana)
Favourite player(s): Alex Morgan, Bala Devi
Best friend(s) in the team: Shelja
Favourite food: Fish Curry/ Roti Sabji


Hemam Shilky Devi, defender

State: Manipur
How she started playing football: "My brother also played football, I went with him and joined my hometown academy (Amofa Academy)."
Playing experience: Young Welfare Club (Manipur)
Favourite player(s): Alex Morgan, Bala Devi
Best friend(s) in the team: Lynda
Favourite food: Rice/Chicken


Loktongbam Shelia Devi, midfielder

State: Manipur
How she started playing football: "I started playing at home with my brothers"
Playing experience: ICSA Irengbam (Manipur)
Favourite player(s): Danielle van de Donk, Bala Devi
Best friend(s) in the team: Monalisha
Favourite food: Pork


Laishram Rejiya Devi, winger

State: Manipur
How she started playing football: "I started playing with my brother and his friends"
Playing experience: Youth Welfare Club (Manipur)
Favourite player(s): Cristiano Ronaldo, Bala Devi
Best friend(s) in the team: "All of them are good friends"
Favourite food: Chicken


Astam Oraon, defender (Captain)

State: Jharkhand
How she started playing football: "Started playing in my village"
Playing experience: -
Favourite player(s): Ashalata Devi
Best friend(s) in the team: "Everyone"
Favourite food: Chicken


Moirangthem Monalisha Devi, goalkeeper

State: Manipur
How she started playing football: "I loved watching football matches, when I got an opportunity at a playground near my home, I slowly started playing"
Playing experience: Youth Welfare Club (Manipur)
Favourite player(s): Hope Solo
Best friend(s) in the team: Melody
Favourite food: Pork


Purnima Kumari, defender

State: Jharkhand
How she started playing football: "I started playing with my brothers"
Playing experience: Jharkhand team
Favourite player(s): Ashalata Devi, Lionel Messi
Best friend(s) in the team: Sudha
Favourite food: Mutton


Serto Lynda Kom, forward

State: Manipur
How she started playing football: "I started playing with boys when I was young"
Playing experience: Youth Welfare Club (Manipur)
Favourite player(s): Cristiano Ronaldo, Bala Devi
Best friend(s) in the team: Babina
Favourite food: Pork