Shillong, Mar 7: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma today announced a special grant of Rs 2 lakh to Sanfida Nongrum in recognition of her remarkable international debut at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup and for scoring a historic goal for India.
March 4 marked a historic occasion for Indian women’s football as Nongrum scored the nation’s first goal in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in over two decades. This holds significance not just because of the score, but also because it was Sanfida’s senior debut for the national team.
The last time India scored in this prestigious tournament was in 2003, a full two years before the player was even born.
The chief minister congratulated the player. “Congratulations, Sanfida! Our hearts swell with pride to see you shine on an international stage. Though Team India lost to Vietnam women’s national football team, her performance has ignited hope and inspiration for countless girls and women from small towns who dare to dream big, just like she did,” he wrote on X.
Sangma said the Meghalaya’s daughter also makes history as the first woman from the state in India’s Senior Football Team. “Such remarkable talent, skill and sportsmanship from a young woman from a small town truly deserve appreciation,” he added.
Sanfida’s goal came during India’s opening match against Vietnam. Entering the field as a substitute in the second half, she found the net in the 52nd minute.
For Sanfida, the joy of scoring was mixed with the disappointment of the result. “Although I’m happy to score my first goal on my debut for India, I feel bad that we lost in the last moments. We will take our learnings and move forward to the Japan match,” she said after the game.
Born in 2005, Sanfida began playing football at a young age, inspired by her cousin. The biggest step arrived when she was just 15 years old. She joined Bangalore United FC, where she trained under former India goalkeeper Chitra Gangadharan.
After two years in Karnataka, Sanfida began gaining experience in the Indian Women’s League. She first played for Goa’s Sirvodem SC during the 2021-22 IWL season held in Bhubaneswar, before representing Sports Odisha in the following campaign in Ahmedabad.
Around the same time, another opportunity emerged through the Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools programme. She then moved to Garhwal United FC, where her career entered a new phase. Over time, she became one of the most senior academy players in the squad and eventually took on leadership responsibilities.
Her rise with the club culminated in the 2024-25 season when Garhwal United won the IWL 2 title, with Sanfida serving as captain. Later that year, she also scored a spectacular long-range goal that helped the club secure their first-ever Indian Women’s League victory in December 2025.
