Football Association of Odisha (FAO) today announced a 20-member State squad for the Dr Talimeren Ao Junior Girls National Football Championship 2026-27 (Tier-I), which is being held in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh from 10 to 25 September 2026.
This is the 19th edition of the championship, which features a total of 15 teams and 24 matches. Teams are playing league matches in four groups and the top team from each group will advance to the semifinals.
Odisha has been placed in Group-B, along with West Bengal, Maharashtra and Rajasthan. Odisha will face Rajasthan on Sept 16, West Bengal on Sept 18 and Maharashtra on Sept 20.
ABOUT DR TALIMEREN AO: Since the 2025-26 season, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has dedicated the Junior Girls NFC in the honor of Dr Talimeren Ao (1918-1998), who was an Indian physician and legendary footballer from Nagaland. He served as the first national football team captain of independent India.
Dr Ao captained the India National Football Team in their historic first-ever international match against France at the 1948 London Olympics. He also served as the flag-bearer for the Indian contingent at the 1948 Olympic Games.
Played at the Cricklefield Stadium in Ilford, in front of 17,000 spectators on 31 July 1948, the unfancied Indian side gave France an incredibly tough fight, but only to suffer a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat. Despite losing the match and being eliminated, the team won over the crowd and international press.
Rene Courbin gave France the lead in the 30th minute, while India equalized through Sarangapani Raman in the 70th minute. With the match heading toward extra time, Rene Persillon scored the decisive second goal for France in the 89th minute.
But the result could have easily gone in favour of India if the team had not wasted two penalties – one each by Sailen Manna and Mahabir Prasad. The most famous aspect of the match was that the majority of the Indian players played barefoot. They, ofcourse, possessed boots provided by the AIFF but preferred playing barefoot because it suited their playing style and offered better ball control.
Following the spectacular display, the Indian team was invited to Buckingham Palace by King George VI. Capitalizing on their sudden fame, the team stayed in Europe for several exhibition matches, which included a thumping 5-1 victory against Dutch giants Ajax Amsterdam.
ODISHA JUNIOR GIRLS FOOTBALL TEAM:
Goalkeepers: Barsha Priyadarshani Jena (Puri), Kamal Krishna (Bhubaneswar), Jayashree Kar (Bhadrak).
Defenders: Barsharani Patra, Babi Biswajita Sahoo (both Sports Hostel, Bhubaneswar), Sanjana Munda, Damayanti Munda (both Sambalpur), Lipsha Naik (Kataka).
Mid-fielders: Bimala Behera (Kataka), Abhilipsa Das (Sports Hostel, Bhubaneswar), Niruta Baraghare, Kamini Malik (both Nita Football Academy), Kabita Minz (Sports Hostel, Sundargarh).
Forwards: Punam Soren, Pritee Sasmal (both Kataka), Pallavi Tirkey (Sports Hostel, Sundargarh), Aisha Sidika (Nita Football Academy), Puspa Kishan, Barsa Kishan (both Sundargarh), Shradhanjali Herna (Balangir).
Team Staff: Gitanjali Khuntia (Head Coach), Suman Pragya Mishra (Assistant Coach), Rajeswari Das (Goalkeeping Coach), Lopamudra Maharaj (Physio).
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PHOTO: Players of Odisha team pose before leaving for Anantapur to participate in the Dr Talimeren Ao Junior Girls National Football Championship 2026-27 (Tier-I).