Who is Anushka Kumari, the 14-year-old who makes waves for India U17?

A look at a match report from a recent India U17 competition, and the name of Anushka Kumari will probably perform. The 14-year-old recently scored a hat trick against Bhutan on Sunday when India continued his impressive start of the Saff U17 Women’s Championship.

Anushka, from Ruka in Jharkhand, started playing at the age of six. Her mother is a worker who ran the household after her father had a broken leg and was unable to work. At the age of 11 she joined the residential girls’ football center in Hazarbagh.

Read also: India empty Bhutan 8-0 in Saff U17 Women’s Championship

The journey was fast from there. A strong performance for scouts on the Sub Junior National Football Championship for Jharkhand led them to be called up for the National Camp, and in 2024 she was called up for the SAFF U16 Women’s Championship in Nepal.

At the age of only 13 she was the joint top scorer with five goals and a goal in every match, although India would be defeated in the final in Bangladesh on penalties.

Anushka has leveled her trade in IWL2 with Indian Arrows Ladies Juniors, under the supervision of the U17 coach Joakim Alexanderon. She scored six goals last season when Indian Arrows finished second in the competition and was promoted to IWL.

Anushka will be in action for India, because it wants to protect the title of Saff U17 Women’s Championship, with his next assignment against Bhutan on Wednesday.

Published August 26, 2025