Grace Dangmei (born 5 February 1996) is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a forward for the club Kickstart and the India women's national team.[1] She was part of the team at the 2014 Asian Games[2] and at the 2016 South Asian Games where she scored two goals against Sri Lanka.[3][4] During the 2016 SAFF Women's Championship, she scored a goal in the first half of the final, helping India clinch its fourth consecutive title at the tournament.[5][6]

Grace Dangmei
Personal information
Full name Grace Dangmei
Date of birth (1996-02-05) 5 February 1996 (age 28)
Place of birth Dimdailong, Churachandpur, Manipur, India
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
Kickstart
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2018 KRYPHSA 9 (8)
2019 Sethu 7 (8)
2021–2022 Gokulam Kerala 11 (4)
2022–2023 Sevinch Qarshi 14 (4)
2023–2024 Gokulam Kerala 20 (3)
2024– Kickstart
International career
2014 India U19 3 (1)
2013– India 80 (22)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 27 October 2024

Early life

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Grace Dangmei was born to Simon Dangmei and Rita Dangmei. She belongs to the Rongmei tribe from Dimdailong Village, Kangvai Sub-Division, Churachandpur District, Manipur.[7]

Club career

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Dangmei played the inaugural edition of the Indian Women's League with KRYPHSA and spent another season with the club. She joined Sethu in 2019 for the 3rd edition of the IWL. During the 2018 Indian Women's League, she was awarded the Emerging Player Award.[8] She scored a brace in her first match with Sethu FC against Manipur Police Sports Club on 6 May 2019, and won the 2018–19 IWL season.

She then joined Gokulam Kerala in 2021,[9] and earned vice-captaincy. Later on July 15, 2021, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) nominated Gokulam Kerala to represent India in the AFC Women's Club Championship 2020–21 pilot tournament.[10] She appeared in the matches of the 2021 AFC Women's Club Championship. She had a brilliant performance against FC Bunyodkor (women), which is the women's team of Uzbekistan on 14 November, where her side won 3–1.[11][12][13] In that continental tournament, they achieved third place. In the 2021–22 season, her team Gokulam Kerala clinched the title and qualified for the AFC Women's Club Championship.

On July 2, 2022, it was announced Grace had signed a professional contract abroad, with the Uzbek Women's League side FC Nasaf Karshi[14][15] on a season-long deal.[16] She helped her Uzbek team win both the league and cup in that calendar year, scoring 4 goals in 14 league matches.

International career

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Grace appeared with India U-19 in 2014.

From my parents to all the coaches that I have trained under, as well as the players that I have played with, I am grateful for the support that I have always received. I feel people don't realize that we are much ahead of the men's team in terms of FIFA rankings and maybe we don't get enough credit sometimes, but with us participating in more and more international competitions, that will hopefully change.

— Grace Dangmei, on her journey with football.[17]

She made her senior international debut at the AFC Qualifiers in 2013, and became a regular member of the women's national team.[18] In the six years with the national team, she made 37 appearances and scored 14 goals.[19] Later, at the 2019 South Asian Games, they clinched a gold, defeating Nepal. Her brace against Indonesia at the 2020 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifier Round 2 match, gave her popular fame.[17]

Grace represented India at the 2021 International Women's Football Tournament of Manaus, where they faced teams like Brazil,[20][21] and Chile. She scored a goal against Venezuela on December 1, in their 2–1 defeat.[22]

On 7 September 2022, at the SAFF Women's Championship in Nepal, she scored a goal against Pakistan in their 3–0 win.

Career statistics

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International

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As of 27 October 2024
International caps and goals
Years Caps Goals
2013 3 0
2014 1 0
2015 2 0
2016 5 3
2017 7 1
2018 3 0
2019 26 11
2021 9 1
2022 6 3
2023 12 1
2024 6 2
Total 80 22
Scores and results list India's goal tally first.
List of international goals scored by Grace Dangmei
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 9 February 2016 Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Shillong, India   Sri Lanka 2–0 5–0 2016 South Asian Games
2. 3–0
3. 27 December 2016 Kanchenjunga Stadium, Siliguri, India   Afghanistan 4–1 5–1 2016 SAFF Women's Championship
4. 4 January 2017   Bangladesh 1–0 3–1
5. 21 January 2019 Hong Kong   Hong Kong 1–0 5–2 Friendly
6. 2–1
7. 30 January 2019 Benteng Taruna Stadium, Tangerang, Indonesia   Indonesia 2–0 2–0
8. 1 March 2019 Alanya, Turkey   Turkmenistan 1–0 10–0 2019 Turkish Women's Cup
9. 13 March 2019 Sahid Rangasala, Biratnagar, Nepal   Maldives 1–0 6–0 2019 SAFF Women's Championship
10. 17 March 2019   Sri Lanka 1–0 5–0
11. 22 March 2019   Nepal 2–1 3–1
12. 3 April 2019 Thuwunna Stadium, Yangon, Myanmar   Indonesia 1–0 2–0 2020 Olympic Qualifiers
13. 2–0
14. 3 December 2019 Pokhara Rangasala, Pokhara, Nepal   Maldives 1–0 5–0 2019 South Asian Games
15. 5 December 2019   Sri Lanka 5–0 6–0
16. 1 December 2021 Arena da Amazônia, Manaus, Brazil   Venezuela 1–0 1–2 2021 International Football Tournament of Manaus
17. 7 September 2022 Dasharath Rangasala, Kathmandu, Nepal   Pakistan 2–0 3–0 2022 SAFF Women's Championship
18. 10 September 2022   Maldives 4–0 9–0
19. 8–0
20. 28 March 2023 Pakhtakor Stadium, Tashkent, Uzbekistan   Uzbekistan 1–1 3–2 Friendly
21. 17 October 2024 Dasharath Rangasala, Kathmandu, Nepal   Pakistan 1–0 5–2 2024 SAFF Women's Championship
22. 4–0

Honours

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India

Sethu

Gokulam Kerala

Sevinch Karshi

KRYPHSA

Manipur

Individual

See also

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References

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Cited sources

  1. ^ "Dangmei Grace profile". AIFF. Archived from the original on 2 July 2020. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  2. ^ "Dangmei Grace felicitated". The Sangai Express. 14 December 2014. Retrieved 6 March 2017.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ "South Asian Games 2016: Full squad for India Men and Women football team". International Business Times. Archived from the original on 8 April 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  4. ^ "Sri Lankan men and women fastest in South Asia". The Telegraph. 9 February 2016. Archived from the original on 11 February 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  5. ^ "Indian women win 4th consecutive SAAF Women's Championship". ESPN. 4 January 2017. Archived from the original on 6 January 2017. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
  6. ^ "Football: India march to fourth SAFF Women's Championship title with 3–1 win against Bangladesh". Scroll.in. 4 January 2017. Archived from the original on 27 March 2017. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
  7. ^ Adhikari, Somak (14 November 2019). "Grace Dangmei Is Pretty Much The Pride Of Indian Women's Football But None Of Us Really Know Who She Is". www.indiatimes.com. India Times. Archived from the original on 14 June 2021. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  8. ^ "Each Indian Women Team Player is a Star: Dangmei Grace". Football Express. 8 January 2021. Archived from the original on 18 January 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  9. ^ "Hero Indian Women's League Squad". www.the-aiff.com. All India Football Federation. Archived from the original on 15 April 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  10. ^ "Gokulam Kerala FC to represent India in AFC Women's Club Championship". The Indian Express. 15 July 2021. Archived from the original on 14 May 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  11. ^ "AFC Women's Club Championship: Gokulam Kerala edge out FC Bunyodkor to finish third | Goa News - Times of India". The Times of India. TNN. 14 November 2021. Archived from the original on 13 November 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  12. ^ Sportstar, Team. "AFC Women's Club C'ship: Gokulam Kerala beats FC Bunyodkor 3-1 to end campaign on a winning note". Sportstar. Archived from the original on 15 November 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  13. ^ "Gokulam Kerala Beat FC Bunyodkor To End AFC Women's Club Championship Campaign On A High". Outlook India. Archived from the original on 15 November 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  14. ^ "Our forward Dangmei Grace becomes the second Indian women footballer to sign a professional contract abroad. She will represent FC Nasaf next season 💯✈️ We wish her all the best! See you soon in Uzbekistan🔥👊". Twitter (Gokulam Kerala Football Club Official). 2 July 2022. Archived from the original on 2 July 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  15. ^ 08:13 GMT, The Bridge Desk (2 July 2022). "Dangmei Grace signs professional contract with Uzbekistan's FC Nasaf". thebridge.in. The Bridge. Archived from the original on 2 July 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  16. ^ 15:11 IST, TOI (2 July 2022). "Dangmei Grace signs for Uzbek Super League club". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. New Delhi, India: The Times of India. Press Trust of India. Archived from the original on 2 July 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  17. ^ a b Chatterjee, Sayan (22 May 2021). "All of 25, Dangmei Grace perfectly embodies the growth of women's football in India". thebridge.in. The Bridge. Archived from the original on 2 June 2021. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  18. ^ "Indian women's football team to play friendlies against Hong Kong, Indonesia". sportskeeda.com. Sportskeeda. 16 January 2019. Archived from the original on 27 November 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  19. ^ Shukla, Kaushal (24 July 2019). "From defender in Manipur to forward in Indian football team: Tracing the journey of Dangmei Grace". scroll.in. Scroll. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  20. ^ "WATCH | Manisha Kalyan Scores Historic Goal for Indian Women's Football Team Against Brazil". News18. 26 November 2021. Archived from the original on 16 December 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  21. ^ "Manisha Kalyan scores against Brazil but India suffer 1-6 defeat". Firstpost. 26 November 2021. Archived from the original on 26 November 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  22. ^ "Indian women go down to Venezuela 1-2 in four-nation football tournament". timesofindia.Indiatimes.com. Manaus, Brazil: The Times of India. Press Trust of India. 2 December 2021. Archived from the original on 2 July 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  23. ^ "Indian Women's League 2023: Gokulam Kerala thrash Kickstart FC 5–0 to win third consecutive title". sportstar.thehindu.com. Chennai: Sportstar. 21 May 2023. Archived from the original on 22 May 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  24. ^ "Gokulam Kerala steamroll Kickstart to complete hat-trick of Hero IWL titles". the-aiff.com. All India Football Federation. 21 May 2023. Archived from the original on 22 May 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  25. ^ a b Gani, Abdul (21 November 2022). "Footballer Dangmei Grace of Manipur wins two trophies with Sevinch Karshi in Uzbekistan". assamtribune.com. Guwahati: The Assam Tribune. Archived from the original on 25 November 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  26. ^ "Gokulam Kerala crowned champion of IWL 2020 - As it happened". Sportstar. 13 February 2020. Archived from the original on 10 February 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  27. ^ "Manipur champions for the 22nd time in Sr Women's NFC for Rajmata Jijabai Trophy". AIFF. 15 May 2024.
  28. ^ "Sunil Chhetri and Ashalata Devi bag top honours at AIFF Awards". Sportstar. The Hindu. 9 July 2019. Archived from the original on 5 May 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  29. ^ "RISING STUDENT CLUB CROWNED CHAMPIONS OF HERO IWL". 14 April 2018. Archived from the original on 6 February 2019. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  30. ^ Chatterjee, Triyasha (13 May 2023). "FPAI Awards 2023: Bengaluru FC's Sivasakthi Narayanan wins Young Player of year, Mumbai City FC SWOOP numerous awards – Check Out". insidesport.in. Gangtok: Inside Sport India. Archived from the original on 13 May 2023. Retrieved 13 May 2023.

Further reading

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