AFC honors an Indian player after defeat to Vietnam

AFC praised midfielder Soumya Guguloth for her outstanding performance with the Indian women's team at the 2026 Asian Cup, celebrating her journey of overcoming hardship and her strong competitive spirit.

Asian Football Confederation (AFC) recently gave special praise to Indian women's team midfielder Soumya Guguloth following her standout performance in the opening match of Group C at the 2026 Women's Asian Cup. Despite the team's 1-2 loss to Vietnam at Perth Rectangular Stadium (Australia), the 24-year-old player was seen as a bright spot in the South Asian representative's lineup.

“When I was young, I often had to sneak out to play football because in my village, girls didn't play soccer. I practiced with boys, and that helped me become mentally stronger,” Soumya shared, recalling her early days pursuing her passion.

According to AFC's assessment, Soumya stood out in midfield with tireless movement, active challenges, and creating opportunities for teammates. The midfielder, who plays for East Bengal Club, constantly appeared in key areas on the field, demonstrating her important role in the Indian women's team's play.

“The difficult times in my childhood taught me that opportunities don't come often. So, every time I step onto the field, I strive to fight for every ball,” said the player born in 2001.

Soumya's journey to professional football is seen as an inspiring story in India. Starting from Telangana state, where women's football faces many developmental limitations, she gradually proved herself to rise to the national level.

“Cristiano Ronaldo is a major inspiration for me because of his hard work and never-give-up spirit. In India, I also greatly admire Sunil Chhetri for his consistency and long-term dedication to the country's football,” Soumya said.

Not only an energetic midfielder, Soumya is also seen as a model of resilience for Indian women's football. AFC stated that her fighting spirit and perseverance reflect the aspirations of an entire generation of female players in the South Asian nation. “Football always has challenges like injuries or match pressure. But if you want to succeed, you must accept sacrifice and keep believing in yourself,” affirmed the 24-year-old midfielder.

Alongside her career development goals, Soumya Guguloth also hopes to inspire young female players in her homeland. “I come from a small place with limited opportunities. But if you work hard and believe in yourself, you can still reach the top. I also want parents to give their daughters a chance to pursue football,” she conveyed.