Know your player for AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026: Pyari Xaxa

Pyari Xaxa won the 2024-25 FPAI Indian Player of the Year award

For the first time in the last seven editions of the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, the Indian Women’s National Team will be playing in the major tournament. Even though they qualified for the last edition of the hosts, they had to withdraw due to the Covid outbreak in the camp.

You have the chance to bounce back stronger after a setback. And that is what India has this time: an opportunity to establish themselves against Asia’s strongest teams.

We shall look more closely at Pyari Xaxa and her contributions to the team as we continue to analyze the 26-member squad’s main players and their roles in representing India in Australia.

Pyari Xaxa’s career so far:

Pyari, who was born in Odisha’s Sundergagh district, began her career with the local team Kunwarmunda. She, like other female footballers, spent the early stages of her career playing alongside male players in order to pursue her football aspirations.

She represented India U-19 at the age of 17, scoring two goals in the 2015 AFC U-19 Asian Cup Qualifiers. She was named the 2015 AIFF promising player of the year for her outstanding performances.

She began her professional career with Rising Students FC; a team located in Odisha and played for them during the first IWL season. In her debut season, she had an instant impact, scoring 10 goals in the preliminary round and four in the final round guiding her team to a runner-up position at the age of 20.

After that, she continued her excellent form and led her team to triumph in the 2017-18 ISL season.

She spent a short time with Odisha Police, where she won the 2021-22 Odisha Women’s League, before joining Sports Odisha ahead of the 2020-21 IWL season. She led her team to fourth place and was second highest Indian goalscorer, with 12 goals, two behind Manisha Kalyan.

Pyari Xaxa later switched to Odisha FC when the club’s women’s squad was established in 2022. Hailing from Odisha, she was the club’s first signing.

In her three seasons with Odisha FC, she missed the first due to injury. However, she returned in the second season with a bang, scoring eight goals and carrying the team to their first IWL title.

However, the team’s relegation to IWL-2 marked the heartbreaking conclusion of the last season. She now plays for Nita FA in the 2025/26 IWL, where she is the leading goal scorer after seven rounds.

At the age of 18, she made her senior NT debut in 2015. She has been a mainstay in the NT setup ever since because of her skill and clinical finishing abilities.

She scored her maiden goal for the Blue Tigresses against Malaysia, and since then, she has scored multiple significant goals, including one against the USA U-23 in 2022.

Read More: Indian Women’s team shirt numbers revealed for AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026

What does Pyari bring to the table?

Pyari Xaxa, a striker by trade, is well-known for her outstanding goal-scoring abilities. She is currently one of India’s most clinical forwards, along with Anju Tamang and Dangmei Grace. She made headlines in the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers versus Mongolia, scoring five goals in a single game.

Pyari Xaxa has scored ten goals from seven games, including two hattricks and a brace, even in the current 2025–2026 IWL season.

With her present form and her national level experience, Pyari will undoubtedly be an important part of the Indian team in the 2026 AFC Asian Cup. She has the second most goals for the Indian women’s national team, trailing only Dangmei Grace, out of the 26-member roster.

Pyari Xaxa may not be a traditional centre-forward physically, but her smart positioning and sharp instincts make her a natural goal scorer.

With electrifying pace and clinical finishing, she has earned the nickname “Ferrari” for her explosive bursts in attack.

Due to Anju Tamang’s injury, Pyari Xaxa and Dangmei Grace must use their combined expertise and goal-scoring skills to win games.

Player profile: Pyari Xaxa

• Name: Pyari Xaxa
• Age: 28
• Place of Birth: Kunwarmunda, Odisha
• Height: 156 cm (5’2”)
• Positions: Striker, Winger
• Preferred Foot: Right-footed player
• Current Club: Nita FA

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