14-year-old football prodigy Abhista Basnett secures a place in the final 23-member India U-17 Women’s Football Team for the upcoming SAFF U-17 Championship in Bhutan.
Born to Mr. Riwaz Basnett, Abhista’s football journey began at just Six years old. Since 2018, she has been playing for various clubs across the hills of Sikkim, often competing against senior players and impressing with her goal-scoring and playmaking abilities. Her exceptional dribbling skills were on full display during the 2018 Open Women’s League in Sikkim, where she scored a remarkable solo goal, drawing comparisons to Anju Tamang, India’s national team forward.
Abhista’s consistent rise was further recognized when she got the chance to meet Indian national players in Kolkata during the 2018 World Cup Qualifiers between India and Bangladesh.
Her outstanding performance in the AIFF trials (June 2025) sealed her selection for the national squad, making her one of the youngest footballers to represent India internationally.
