Know your player for AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026: Dangmei Grace

Dangmei Grace is one of the few Indian players to have played abroad.

As the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup gets closer, optimism remains high as we all want to see the Indian Women’s National Team do well in Australia. The Blue Tigresses will start their campaign against Vietnam on March 4, 2026, at HBF Park in Perth.

As we’ve been delving into each player’s profile ahead of the big competition, today’s emphasis is on Sribhumi FC striker Dangmei Grace. From her breakout season in IWL to flying the Indian flag high in Uzbekistan, let’s take a closer look at Dangmei’s career and strengths.

Dangmei Grace’s career so far:

Grace began her professional career with the Indian Women’s League’s side KRYPSHA FC, a local club from Manipur. She was awarded emerging player of the 2017–18 IWL season during her two years with the team. After that, she joined Sethu FC, where she won the Indian Women’s League in 2018–19.

Despite her young age, Dangmei Grace made a name for herself as one of the league’s top up-and-coming players while also earning the AIFF women’s emerging player of the year title for the 2018–19 season.

Grace then joined Gokulam Kerala FC, where she matured and developed as a player. She was one of the IWL’s most consistent performers, winning two titles and scoring important goals throughout her two-year tenure at the club.

Between these two years, she spent a brief period with FC Nasaf’s women’s team, Sevinch Qarshi FC in Uzbekistan.

During her time with the Uzbek club, she contributed significantly to her team’s domestic double that year scoring some crucial goals. For her vital services to Gokulam Kerala FC and Sevinch Qarshi FC, she was also named the FPAI Women’s Player of the Year 2022–2023.

She subsequently returned to India, where she spent time with Sethu FC before joining Sribhumi FC.

She made her NT debut as a young player in 2010 with the India U-14. Given her exciting and raw abilities, she was called up to the senior national team in 2013 at the age of 17, and she scored her first goal for the Blue Tigresses in 2016 against Sri Lanka.

Since her debut, she has been a fixture in the NT lineup, barring injuries, and has 92 caps with the Indian Women’s NT, the second most in history.

Read More: 26-member India squad for AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026 announced

What does Dangmei bring to the table?

Dangmei began her career as an electrifying winger with flair and outstanding dribbling abilities. Her miniature stature allows her in taking on opponents given that she has a low center of gravity. As she developed in her career, however, she also learned how to get into the box at the appropriate moment, which helped her score goals and establish herself as a first or second striker.

As previously said, Dangmei is not new to the NT system, having played against a lot of countries during her 13-year tenure with the Blue Tigresses. With 92 NT appearances, she is the most experienced player in Amelia Valverde’s 26-member roster for the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup.

Not only does she make appearances, but she is also a leader on the field and, more crucially, a consistent goal scorer, with 23 goals for the NT, the fourth most in history. And in the most recent round of friendlies under Amelia Valverde, she scored the victory against Hertha BSC ladies and two goals against Perth Azzurri.

Dangmei’s ability to score goals will be essential to India’s victory in the forthcoming Asian Cup because Anju Tamang is sidelined. Her international expertise would also be beneficial of handling the young Indian team.

Player profile: Dangmei Grace

• Name: Dangmei Grace
• Age: 30
• Place of Birth: Churachandpur, Manipur
• Height: 153 cm (5’1”)
• Positions: Winger, Striker
• Preferred Foot: Right-footed player
• Current Club: Sribhumi FC Women

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