Bhubaneswar: Ace Odisha and India striker Pyari Xaxa has been adjudged best women’s Indian player of the year.
Pyari, who plays for Odisha FC Women in IWL, is currently on national duty in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers in Thailand, and hence was not present at the Football Players Association of India (FPAI)-hosted Indian Football Awards 2025 at Shillong on June 29.
The 28-year-old Pyari, who hails from Odisha’s Sundargarh district, scored 5 goals in India’s opening 13-0 win over Mongolia.
Bengaluru FC’s ageless star Sunil Chhetri, who came back from international retirement at the age of 40, was presented Indian Player of the Year.
FPAI’s Indian Football Awards recognises the season’s top performers. Winners across categories were selected through a player-led voting process, with active footballers casting their votes. The highest-voted nominee in each category was declared winners.
ALL THE WINNERS
Young Player of the Year: Brison Fernandes (FC Goa)
Foreign Player of the Year: Alaaeddine Ajaraie (NorthEast United FC)
Indian Player of the Year: Sunil Chhetri (Bengaluru FC)
I-League Player of the Year: Edmund Lalrindika (Inter Kashi FC)
Coach of the Year: Khalid Jamil (Jamshedpur FC)
Women’s Indian Player of the Year: Pyari Xaxa (Odisha FC)
Women’s Young Player of the Year: Naorem Priyanka Devi (East Bengal FC).
