Thu Oct 24 11:17:01 UTC 2024: ### Summary of the News Article

1. **Historic Milestone**: Ashalata Devi, the captain of the Indian women’s football team, is set to become the first Indian woman footballer to play 100 international matches against Pakistan on October 17, during the SAFF Championship.

2. **Career Journey**:
– Ashalata, a 31-year-old from Manipur, made her debut in March 2011 in Dhaka against Bangladesh.
– She began her football journey at the age of 13 and was selected for the Indian U-17 team in 2008.
– She has played for various clubs, including the Indian Railway team and clubs in the Indian Women’s League, and is currently with East Bengal.

3. **Current Goals**:
– Ashalata expressed excitement over reaching her milestone match but emphasized the team’s goal of winning the championship and bringing the trophy back home after a previous setback in the last SAFF Championship.

4. **Significance of the Tournament**: The SAFF Championship is seen as a crucial tournament for the team, and Ashalata is looking forward to competing in all matches with a focus on victory.

Read More