Anand Mahindra amazed by Manisha Kalyan’s thunderous Cristiano Ronaldo-like free-kick. Who is this football sensation from Punjab?

Manisha Kalyan's stunning free-kick at the AFC Women's Asian Cup clash against Chinese Taipei has left veteran industrialist Anand Mahindra stunned. Manisha fired in a free-kick that took a vicious curl, hit the underside of the crossbar and went in, and the goal was so good that the commentator even compared Manisha to renowned Portuguese football legend Cristiano Ronaldo. In a post on X, Anand Mahindra stressed that "rocket-like free kick" from Manisha is "a moment that challenges an old assumption that raw football doesn't exist in India".

"Every now and then sport produces a moment that challenges an old assumption. This rocket-like free kick from Manisha was one of those moments. Challenged the assumption that raw football talent doesn’t exist in India. Our real challenge is to locate it early and build an ecosystem that can nurture it. Because the rockets are clearly there. We just need more launchpads," Anand Mahindra said in a post on X.

Who is Manisha Kalyan?

Born in Punjab's Muggowal, Manisha Kalyan first played football at the age of 13 when her school PT teacher asked her to switch from athletics to football. The young football sensation's journey from a small village in Punjab to the illustrious stage of the UEFA Women’s Champions League is nothing short of incredible. Manisha Kalyan participated in athletics and basketball during her school days before football captured her heart, reported Al Jazeera. Defying the limitations of her rural roots and daring to dream big, she earned a spot in the Indian team in 2019 at just 17.

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In 2022, Manisha Kalyan received the golden opportunity to sign with the Cypriot club Apollon Ladie. Known for her speed and ability to adapt to several positions, Kalyan has been recognised as one of the best Indian players in recent times.

Manisha plays as a forward for Alianza Lima in the Primera División Femenina and represents the India women’s national team. The All India Football Federation named her the Women’s Player of the Year in 2021-22 and 2022-23 and she was also part of the India team that won gold at the South Asian Games in 2019.

Kalyan shot to fame in 2021 after she became the first Indian to score a goal against Brazil in a friendly match, which India lost 6-1. Manisha added another feather to her cap by becoming the first Indian to score in the Women’s Champions League when she found the net against Georgia’s FC Samegrelo in the qualifiers.

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Manisha Kalyan’s thunderbolt free-kick

India women's national football team suffered heartbreak in Sydney on Tuesday as a 1–3 defeat to Chinese Taipei women's national football team ended their AFC Women's Asian Cup campaign in a must-win final group-stage clash.

Despite the loss, winger Manisha Kalyan grabbed the spotlight with a stunning long-range free kick. Trailing 0–1 in the 39th minute, Manisha unleashed a thunderous strike from nearly 30 yards out, the ball curling sharply before smashing against the crossbar. It bounced back into play, briefly leaving players unsure if it had crossed the line.

The commentator immediately hailed it as the “goal of the tournament,” adding that Manisha’s favourite footballer, Cristiano Ronaldo, “will surely like that.”