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Nick-named Ferrari for her speedy run, Odisha ace Pyari Xaxa created a record for India by scoring five goals agaubst Mongolia in the opening match on June 23. That was the biggest ever win for India in an AFC Womens Asian Cup (final round and qualifiers) match. Previously, the Blue Tigresses crushed Guam by 10-0 margin twice in 1997 and 2005.
Pyari Xaxa joined an elite list of Indian players to score five or more goals in a single international match. She is the sixth Indian women footballer and second from Odisha after Sasmita Malik to achieve the feat. Other four are: Bala Devi, Lokeshwori Devi, Sujata Kar and Kamala Devi.
Among the famed six, Sasmita Malik and Bala Devi scored five or more goals in an international match twice. Former India captain Sasmita Malik holds the record of scoring the highest number of seven goals against Bhutan.
A 24-member Indian womens team, including two from Odisha, travelled to Thailand for the AFC Womens Asian Cup Qualifiers. But before the start of the opening match, Odisha forward Manisha Naik was dropped from the squad.
MOST GOALS IN AN INTERNATIONAL MATCH BY AN INDIAN WOMAN:
1. Sasmita Malik (Odisha): 7 goals against Bhutan, SAFF Womens Championship, 2010 (India won 18-0) and 5 goals against Maldives, Asian Games, 2014 (India won 15-0).
2. Bala Devi (Manipur): 5 goals against Bhutan, SAFF Womens Championship, 2010 (India won 18-0) and 5 goals against Afghanistan, SAFF Womens Championship, 2014 (India won 12-0).
3. Lokeshwori Devi (Manipur): 5 goals against Guam, AFC Womens Asian Cup, 1997 (India won 10-0).
4. Sujata Kar (West Bengal): 5 goals against Guam, AFC Womens Asian Cup Qualifier, 2005 (India won 10-0).
5. Kamala Devi (Manipur): 5 goals against Maldives, Asian Games, 2014 (India won 15-0).
6. Pyari Xaxa (Odisha): 5 goals against Mongolia, AFC Womens Asian Cup Qualifier, 2025 (India won 13-0).
INDIAN SENIOR WOMEN FOOTBALL TEAM:
Goalkeepers: Elangbam Panthoi Chanu, Moirangthem Monalisha Devi, Payal Basude.
Defenders: Hemam Shilky Devi, Kiran Pisda, Martina Thokchom, Ngangbam Sweety Devi, Phanjoubam Nirmala Devi, Purnima Kumari, Sanju, Sorokhaibam Ranjana Chanu.
Midfielders: Anju Tamang, Grace Dangmei, Karthika Angamuthu, Nongmaithem Ratanbala Devi, Priyadharshini Selladurai, Sangita Basfore.
Forwards: Lynda Kom Serto, Malavika P, Manisha Kalyan, Manisha Naik, Pyari Xaxa, Rimpa Haldar, Soumya Guguloth.
TEAM STAFF: Crispin Chettri (Head Coach), Priya PV and Nivetha Ramadoss (both Assistant Coach), Mario Luis Aguiar (Goalkeeper Coach), Chelston Pinto (Strength and Conditioning Coach).
INDIA RESULTS:
23 June 2025: India (Sangita Basfore 8th, Soumya Guguloth 20th, Pyari Xaxa 29th, 45th, 46th, 52th, 56th, Rimpa Haldar 67th, Malavika 71st, Priyadarshini Selladurai 73th, 86th, Grace Dangmei 75th-P) beat Mongolia 13-0.
29 June 2025: India (Manisha Kalyan 12th, 80th, Anju Tamang 58th, Lynda Kom Serto 86th) beat Timor-Leste 4-0.
2 July 2025: India (Sangita Basfore 14th, Manisha Kalyan 44th, Karthika Angamuthu 47th, Nirmala Devi 64th, Ratanbala Devi 80th) beat Iraq 5-0.
5 July 2025: India (Sangita Basfore 28th, 74th) beat Thailand (Chatchawan Rodthong 47th) 2-1.
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TOP: Odisha and India forward Pyari Xaxa scores one of her five goals against Mongolia in their opening match of the AFC Womens Asian Cup Qualifiers in Chiang Mai, Thailand on 23 June 2025.
RIGHT: Players, coaches and support staff Indian women football team celebrate after defeating Thailand in the AFC Womens Asian Cup Qualifiers in Chiang Mai, Thailand on 5 July 2025. Photo Credit: The AIFF
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