I know it's tough, says Indian starlet Manisha on FIFA World Cup dream

The forward also spoke about her background, her inspiration to take up the sport & more.

Indian women's national team starlet Manisha Kalyan has overcome much hardship in her life to reach the level she is at right now. Regarded as one of the top talents in the country, the 18-year-old forward is now fulfilling her dream as an India international.

Born in the Mugowal village in Hoshiarpur district, Punjab, Manisha was inclined towards being an athlete early in her career, until she found love in football. "In school, I was into athletics. One day my coach asked me to try my hand at football when I was 13. I enjoyed the teamwork and fell in love instantly," she said. "In athletics, it is all about individualism, but in football you have to work together as a team to win," Manisha told TOI.

Manisha made her national team debut against Hong Kong in January 2019. But, her struggle started much earlier. Her father runs a small cosmetic shop and was the only earner in the family. Also, she faced prejudice from her neighbours, who had problems with her playing with boys.

"As I used to play with boys, a few people in my village had a problem. They used to say that being a girl I should not play with them. To be honest, their mean comments were hard to fathom. My father always supported me and stood with me right from the start. It is because of his support that I am playing now," the youngster revealed.

The big breakthrough in her career came when Manisha was named in the India U-17 team, which was going to participate in the BRICS Football Cup in South Africa in 2018. But, she caught the attention of Indian football fans later that year, when she delivered a memorable performance in India's inspiring win over Thailand in the AFC U-19 Women's Championship Qualifiers.

Manisha orchestrated a goal following her darting run to reach the final third. Her efforts did not go unnoticed as the senior team head coach Maymol Rocky was impressed by her and called her to the national camp, before handing her the coveted senior debut.

Manisha's inspiring run continued beyond the national team, as her influential presence helped Gokulam Kerala win the Indian Women's League (IWL) and she was named the Emerging Player of the Tournament.

"It was really a wonderful experience playing in the IWL and winning the championship. We worked really hard as a team and playing in the tournament helped me understand where I stand among the country's best footballers. I have learned a lot from the number of quality players around me and I know the areas in my game where I need to work on," she added.

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Bala Devi is an inspirational figure for many in Indian football and for Manisha it is no different. After making the right noises in India, the Manipuri forward is now plying her trade at Scottish giants Rangers.

"Bala di is a great player and an inspiration for all of us. I remember she was my roommate once and it was amazing to speak with her. There is so much to learn from her. We both play in the same position (forward) and she gave me a lot of invaluable advice, on how to react in certain match situations, how to prepare for games mentally," said Manisha.

Manisha also revealed that her ultimate goal is to play in the FIFA Women's World Cup. "I know it's tough, but unless you have a target you can't improve as a player," she signed off.

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