A glance at a match report from a recent India Under-17 match, and Anushka Kumari’s name is likely to feature. The 14-year-old most recently scored a hat-trick against Bhutan on Sunday as India continued its impressive start to the SAFF U17 Women’s Championship.
Anushka, who hails from Rukka in Jharkhand, began playing at the age of six. Her mother is a labourer who ran the household after her father suffered a fractured leg and became unable to work. At age 11, she joined Residential Girls Football Centre in Hazaribagh.
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The journey was swift from there. A strong performance in front of scouts at the Sub Junior National Football Championship for Jharkhand led to her being called up for the national camp, and in 2024, she was called up for the SAFF U16 Women’s Championship in Nepal.
At just 13, she was the joint top-scorer with five goals and a goal in every match, although India would suffer defeat in the final to Bangladesh on penalties.
Anushka has been plying her trade in IWL2 with Indian Arrows Women’s Juniors, under the tutelage of U17 coach Joakim Alexandersson. She scored six goals last season as Indian Arrows finished second in the league, and was promoted to IWL.
Anushka will be in action for India as it looks to secure the title of SAFF U17 Women’s Championship, with its next assignment against Bhutan on Wednesday.
Published on Aug 26, 2025
