Sonam Ghosh Selected for India's U-17 Squad in AFC Women's Asian Cup Qualifiers
Sonam Ghosh's Remarkable Achievement
Udaipur (Rajasthan) [India], October 5: Sonam Ghosh, the talented goalkeeper from Zinc Football Academy (ZFA), has reached a significant milestone by being chosen for India's 23-member U-17 squad for the AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup China 2027 Qualifiers.
The 15-year-old athlete was included in the squad announced by head coach Joakim Alexandersson, as the Young Tigresses aim to qualify for the AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup for the second consecutive time, according to an official release.
India has been placed in Group E and will kick off their qualification journey against Iraq on October 5, followed by matches against Syria on October 8 and host Malaysia on October 11. All games will take place at the MP Selayang Stadium in Selayang, Malaysia, with the Young Tigresses arriving in Kuala Lumpur on October 2. Only the group winners will progress to the final tournament.
Sonam's selection follows an impressive season where she has established herself as one of the most promising young goalkeepers in India, emerging from ZFA's unique girls' program. Earlier this year, she played a crucial role in ZFA's successful run in the Rajasthan Senior Women’s League and was part of the team that reached the semi-finals of the inaugural AIFF U-17 Women’s Youth League.
The young goalkeeper has participated in several India U-17 camps and was also part of the squad that traveled to Tashkent last month for two international friendlies against Uzbekistan. The Young Tigresses later hosted two closed-door friendlies against the Philippines national team.
For Sonam, this latest selection is a significant milestone in her journey that began with ZFA's first girls' batch launched in 2025. Originating from Arambagh in West Bengal, she joined ZFA through its residential girls' program and has made remarkable progress over the past year, transitioning from academy football to representing her country on an international stage.
Her journey exemplifies the pathway created by Zinc Football Academy's girls' program, which provides young players with structured football training, formal education, accommodation, and holistic development.
Reflecting on her journey, Sonam expressed, “Wearing the India jersey is a proud moment for me, and I hope my journey inspires many young girls to dream big and believe that anything is possible with hard work and the right support.”
With Sonam set to represent India in the AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers, her journey highlights the rapid growth of ZFA's girls' football program and reinforces Hindustan Zinc's commitment to creating opportunities for young girls in football.
Since its establishment in 2018, Zinc Football Academy, rated as an AIFF 3-star Academy, has consistently produced players for India's age-group teams, enhancing the nation's talent pool. Alongside goalkeeper Rajrup Sarkar, ZFA players Sahil Poonia, Prem Hansdak, and Mohammed Kaif have also represented India, marking another achievement in the academy's ongoing contribution to the growth of Indian football. In 2025, the company launched India's first residential football academy for girls, starting with an inaugural batch of 20 girls from rural backgrounds.