Captain Ashalata Devi will become the first Indian woman footballer to play 100 international matches when she takes the field in the SAFF Championship opening match against Pakistan in Kathmandu on Thursday.
Lallianzuala Chhangte was named the AIFF Men's Footballer of the Year, on the back of his impressive performance in the Indian Super League (ISL) and for the national team.
Former captain and star striker Bala Devi returned to the Indian women's football team after a hiatus of four years as the 22-member national squad for the upcoming Asian Games 2023 was announced in New Delhi on Friday.
Renowned Scottish club Rangers FC on Wednesday announced the signing of woman's national team forward Bala Devi -- a first in Indian football. This will make Bala the first Indian woman to become a professional footballer anywhere in the world and she also becomes Rangers' first Asian international footballer.
Sunil Chhetri was named India's Player of the Year by AIFF president Praful Patel at the Annual General Meeting in Delhi on Friday. India's captain, who won the award in 2007 and 2011, emerged winner after voting by I-League coaches at AIFF's headquarters in Delhi.
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Saturday
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