Guwahati, Aug. 8 -- India's star woman footballer Manisha Kalyan was the cynosure of all eyes at the ASMITA under-13 league for girls here at Nehru Stadium on Friday. Manisha, the only Indian footballer to have played in the UEFA Champions League for women, said ASMITA is a "rare platform for young girls to realise their football dreams."

"I am still dreaming of playing in the FIFA World Cup and the Olympics, and after we qualified for the AFC Women's Asian Cup in Australia next year, our belief has been bolstered. You now have a platform like ASMITA, and the more quality matches you play, the better you will get," the 23-year-old Manisha told the eight teams taking part in the Guwahati leg of ASMITA, aimed at scouting talent at the gras...