Madgaon, June 7: Veteran forward Grace Dangmei announced her retirement from international football on Saturday, marking the end of her remarkable 13-year career with the Indian women’s football team.
Dangmei made this announcement following India’s victory in the SAFF Women’s Championship 2026, held at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. The Indian team showcased an impressive performance, defeating Bangladesh 3-1 in the final. As the final whistle blew, an emotional Grace embraced her teammates, while celebrations erupted in the Indian camp. This victory provided a fitting farewell for one of the most influential players in Indian women’s football.
Since debuting for the senior team in 2013, the 30-year-old has represented India in 95 international matches, scoring 24 goals. Throughout her international career, she secured three SAFF Women’s Championship titles and two South Asian Games gold medals, establishing herself as one of the most experienced players in the national setup.
Grace was a key player in several important campaigns for India, including the Asian Games from 2014 to 2022, the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, and Olympic qualifiers. She gained recognition for her performance in the 2016 South Asian Games, where she scored two goals against Sri Lanka. Additionally, in the 2016 SAFF Women’s Championship final, Grace scored to help India clinch their fourth consecutive title.
Playing for Gokulam Kerala, Grace also achieved significant success. As vice-captain, she excelled and played a crucial role in the club’s historic participation in the AFC Women’s Club Championship. In 2022, she became one of the few Indian women footballers to sign a professional contract abroad, joining Uzbek club FC Nasaf Karshi.
Her final international match was memorable, as India defeated defending champions Bangladesh 3-1 in the SAFF Women’s Championship final. Goals from Pyari Jakhsa, Sanfida Nongrum, and Linda Kom Serto secured India’s record sixth title. The team finished the tournament undefeated, winning all four matches, scoring a total of 18 goals while conceding only one.
Leave a Comment