From Tribal Roots to International Stage: The Struggle Story of Chhattisgarh’s Star Footballer Kiran Pisda

From tribal roots to the international stage: the story of struggle of Chhattisgarh’s star footballer Kiran Pisda. Kiran has played for India and has also played for Dinamo Zagreb in the Croatian Women’s League. Her ability to play in any position is her biggest strength.

Raipur, April 2026 : During the semi-final of the Khelo India Tribal Games against Arunachal Pradesh, when Kiran Pisda wore the goalkeeper’s gloves during the penalty shootout, she was relying on her experiences so far—experiences that made her stronger amid challenges and disappointments.

At the age of 24, Kiran appears to be at the peak of her sporting abilities. She has played league football in Europe and is now on the threshold of securing a place in the Indian team for major international tournaments.

However, her journey has not been easy, even though she received early support from school and family. Her brother Girish Pisda, himself a national-level player, became her inspiration.

Kiran told SAI Media, “I received a lot of support in school. From there, I got opportunities to play at the state and national levels, and with every selection, my confidence kept increasing.” After this, Kiran came to Raipur to pursue a degree in physical education. During the Chhattisgarh Women’s League, she caught the attention of selectors and received a call for the national camp.

Kiran says, “At that time, I was not physically that fit, and my mental level was also not ready to compete with senior players.” For this reason, she was not selected for the Indian team in that national camp. She says, “I realised that I need to work on the experience I gained there.”

After this, a tough phase of self-improvement began in her life. She worked on her fitness, started analysing matches, and improved her positional understanding. But the biggest change came in her mindset.

She says, “I told myself that no matter what happens, I will not think negatively. If you become negative, it directly affects your performance.” Her mentor and coach Yogesh Kumar Jangra played an important role in this transformation. Kiran said, “Whenever I feel that I am not performing well or feel low, I talk to him. He always motivates me to stay positive and move forward.”

Gradually, the impact of her hard work began to show. Her performances at the domestic level opened doors to clubs like Kerala Blasters, where she further refined her game. Her biggest strength became her versatility. She says, “I started as a striker, then played in midfield, and now I play as a full-back for the national team. As a footballer, you should be ready to play in multiple positions for your team.”

Kiran has represented India on several occasions. She was part of the 2022 SAFF Championship squad and has also played for Dinamo Zagreb in the Croatian Women’s League. Yet, setbacks have continued to be part of her journey. Recently, not being selected for a major tournament like the AFC Women’s Asian Cup held in Australia was another test for her.

Kiran says, “Not being selected for a big tournament hurts. Every player feels it. But now I see it from a different perspective. I take it as motivation to work harder and make a strong comeback.” Handling pressure has become her identity. Whether it is competition for a place in the team or performance in crucial matches, she has learned to stay composed. She says, “When you play at a high level, pressure is always there. You have to learn to handle it.”

Kiran also considers the role of team performance important. She said, “If the team is doing well, every player is full of confidence. But when the team is losing, individual performance is also affected.” Coming from a tribal background, Kiran understands the challenges faced by players from remote areas. She believes that platforms like the Khelo India Tribal Games are playing an important role in bridging this gap.

She says, “There is a lot of talent in tribal areas, but players do not always get opportunities. The Khelo India Tribal Games have given them a platform to showcase their talent. This gives them confidence and inspires them to dream of playing for the state and the country.” As far as Kiran is concerned, her current focus is on consistently performing well in domestic competitions like the Indian Women’s League and securing a regular place in the national team. But her goal is much bigger than that.

She says, “I want to keep improving myself, perform consistently, and represent India in major tournaments. If you are not selected, it does not mean you are not a good player—it means you need to work harder.”