Cuttack: In a good news for football lovers in Odisha, Pyari Xaxa of the State has been selected by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) in the Indian senior women’s football team for the upcoming international friendly matches to be played in Turkey between February 14 and 24.
According to Football Association Of Odisha (FAO) sources, the tournament will help prepare the Indian eves for the forthcoming AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2022.
“The tournament will be a great platform to prepare ourselves for a mega competition like AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2022. I am keen to perform well in the friendly matches and cement my place in the senior national team,” said a resolute Xaxa.
FAO Secretary Asirbad Behera, all other office bearers and members of the association congratulated Xaxa and wished her good luck for the upcoming tournament.
Xaxa, known for her attacking game as a forward player, made her senior international debut in 2015 after playing in India U-19 team. She was awarded the AIFF Emerging Woman Footballer in the same year and played a vital role in the Indian team that won gold medal in the 2016 South Asian Games in Shillong.
Xaxa began her football career with Kunwarmunda Club in the State. Rising Student Club signed her in 2016 to play in the inaugural season of the Indian Women’s League (IWL). She finished the season with as many as 14 goals including ten in the preliminary and four in the final round. Her team finished runners-up after losing to Eastern Sporting Union in the summit clash.
(Edited by Suryakant Jena)