Shillong, Feb 23: Meghalaya’s Sanfida Nongrum, popularly known as Polly, has become the first woman from the state to be selected for India’s senior national football team. The 20-year-old midfielder has earned a place in the 26-member squad for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026, which will begin in Australia next month.
Announced on Friday by head coach Amelia Valverde, Nongrum is one of six uncapped players in the Blue Tigresses’ squad. The others include defenders Sarita Yumnam and Sushmita Lepcha, midfielders Jasoda Munda and Aveka Singh, and forward Kaviya Pakkirisamy. Nongrum recently featured in closed-door friendlies in Turkey and traveled with the team to Perth on February 11 after a four-week training camp.
Meghalaya Football Association President Hamletson Dohling praised her achievement on social media, calling it a “proud and historical moment” for the state. He said, “Your journey, hard work, and belief have brought you here. You carry not just the tricolour but the hopes and dreams of so many young girls back home who now know that this stage is possible.”
India, placed in Group C, will begin its campaign against Vietnam on March 4 at Perth Rectangular Stadium (4:30 pm IST), followed by matches against Japan on March 7 at the same venue, and Chinese Taipei on March 10 at Western Sydney Stadium (2:30 pm IST). The top two teams from each group, along with the two best third-placed teams, will advance to the quarterfinals. Winners of the quarterfinals qualify directly for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 in Brazil, while losers enter AFC playoffs for two additional spots, with playoff losers having a final chance via intercontinental playoffs.
Eight players from India’s 2022 Asian Cup squad return, including Sweety Devi Ngangham, Shilky Devi Hemam, Sanju Yadav, Anju Tamang, Pyari Xaxa, Grace Dangmei, Manisha Kalyan, and Sowmiya Narayanasamy. Grace Dangmei leads the team with 23 goals in 91 caps, while 30-year-old Anju Tamang is the seniormost. Club-wise, East Bengal FC has the highest representation with eight players, followed by Sethu FC (six) and Sribhumi FC (four). Aveka Singh (Næstved HG, Denmark) and Manisha Kalyan (Alianza Lima, Peru) are the only overseas-based professionals.
A regular in the Indian Women’s League, Nongrum plays for Garhwal United, representing Delhi in national competitions. She has also played for Bangalore United, Sports Odisha, Sirvodem SC, and Meghalaya’s sub-junior team. Locally, she starred for Laitkor in the Meghalaya Women’s Football League 2024 triumph and was top scorer and Player of the Tournament for Misaka United in the Karnataka Women’s League 2025-26.
