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