New Delhi: India's young striker in the women's football squad created history as she became the first Indian footballer ever to play in the prestigious UEFA Champions League. The moment of pride occurred as she made her debut in the ongoing European Club competition in Cyprus, representing Apollon Ladies FC, according to the news agency PTI. On August 18 at the fields of Engomi, Kalyan joined the game as she replaced her fellow Cyprus teammate Marilena Georgiou in the 60th minute of the match. In the match that took place in Makareio Stadium, the Latvian club SFK Riga were brutally defeated 3-0 by Apollon Ladies FC in their UWCL opener. Sports Career In the qualifying group stage game during the marquee tournament, the 20-year-old Indian star appeared in the face off between SFK Rige and Apollon Ladies. Later, she joined the Cyprus champions to be featured as a substitute in the women's league. "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", the Indian Football Team tweeted. 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 Her stunning performance in the Indian Women's League 2019-20 became the base of her selection into the national camp. The latter lead Gokulam Kerala FC to maiden Indian women league (IWL) title and further nabbed the title of emerging player of the tournament. Early Years Kalyan have been amazing on the football field from a young age and became a part of India's under 17 squad, wherein she represented the nation at the BRICS Cup in South Africa. Indian footballer Gurpreet Singh Sandhu lauded the women in blue on Twitter as he wrote, "Tracking the updates where Manisha Kalyan becomes the first Indian footballer to play in a Champions League game. What a moment, and what a hero. What she's gone and done needs to be spoken about louder". Tracking the updates where Manisha Kalyan becomes the first Indian footballer to play in a Champions League game ⭐️ What a moment, and what a hero. What she's gone and done needs to be spoken about louder ? — Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (@GurpreetGK) August 18, 2022 Moreover, Manisha who became the player of the year in the recent AIFF awards as well, also happens to be the first Indian footballer to hit a goal against Brazil during the tournament.
