Bhagyashree, the only football champ from Maharashtra in under-16 national squad

Bhagyashree Dalvi, a 16-year-old girl hails from Navi Mumbai became one of the 20-member Indian under-16 girl's national team, is reported to be the only footballer from Maharashtra who will be representing the country at the ensuing AFC (Asian Football Confederation).

Navi Mumbai teen finds place in under-16 national football squad https://t.co/0zlOYJVlXF pic.twitter.com/ocfjZhiFp7

— The Times Of India (@timesofindia) August 24, 2016

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Dalvi will play U-16 girl's championship qualifiers in Wei Feng, China first at the event which will be held from August 28 to September 5. The footballer from Sanpada is an experienced captain of Maharashtra squad at the under-15 nationals in Cuttack which had taken place last year. She was selected to be a part of team India after the national camp held at SAI Centre in Patiala, Punjab recently. "It's my second international attempt after the Nepal tour last year. I was confident to make it to national team," elated Dalvi said to TOI.

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Her parents didn’t want her to pursue football rather wanted her to go for athletics. "We wanted her to be a sprinter, but now we realize that she and her coach had made the right choice. Playing for the country is a matter of pride," said Dalvi's mother Hema in the above reported piece. Despite the disagreement, Dalvi opted for foodball from an early age of 10. Since then, she had skilled of dribbling and shooting direct kicks as the leading striker in team Maharashtra and India and proved her talent strength to strength.

She has played in India's under-14 girls team for AFC Regional championship for South and Central Zone

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India's sporting women are going places, changing not just their fortunes but bringing India a lot of glory. We wish Dalvi the best.

Feature Image Credit: mid-day.com

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