In a significant milestone for Indian women’s football, 21-year-old midfielder Aveka Singh has signed for Næstved HG, a club playing in the Kvinde 1. Division, the second tier of Danish women’s football.
Hailing from Delhi, Aveka’s story is a testament to talent, perseverance, and the quiet determination that drives many young athletes beyond borders.
A Path Marked by Early Promise
Aveka’s footballing journey began early, shaped by both domestic brilliance and international exposure. A product of the Indian youth system, she represented the country in the U15 and U17 national teams, playing alongside familiar names like Shilky Devi. She was part of the much-anticipated 2020 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup batch, a tournament that was unfortunately cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Even before the global stage beckoned, Aveka was making her mark back home. In April 2021, she achieved a stunning feat: scoring 27 goals in just 8 matches during the Delhi Women’s League a performance that rightly earned her the Golden Boot. Such numbers were not just impressive; they showcased her instincts, technical skill, and sheer love for the game.
🇺🇸 The American Chapter: UC Irvine Anteaters
While many Indian footballers struggle to find pathways abroad, Aveka took an uncommon route by moving to the United States. She joined the UC Irvine Anteaters, a team competing in the NCAA’s Big West Conference, one of the stronger college leagues in the country.
Her debut came in a commanding 6–0 victory over Southern Utah Thunderbirds, symbolising a new phase of her journey adapting to a faster, physically demanding, and tactically intense style of football.
Playing college football in the U.S. brought Aveka exposure to structured training environments, strength and conditioning support, and regular competition elements often missing in the Indian setup. It also allowed her to mature as a central midfielder: learning to dictate tempo, break up opposition attacks, and contribute in the final third.
Europe Beckons: Signing with Næstved HG
Aveka’s move to Næstved HG in Denmark is a logical next step, but no less pioneering. Danish football, especially the women’s game, is known for its emphasis on technical development and tactical discipline. Playing in Europe, even at the second tier, provides Aveka with higher-level challenges and exposure to different football cultures.
The club, based in the Zealand region, announced her signing proudly, acknowledging her background with the Indian youth national teams and her stint in American college football. For Næstved HG, Aveka brings not only skill and versatility but also the experience of adapting across continents a trait invaluable in any dressing room.
Beyond Stats: A Story of Resilience and Dreams
Aveka’s career cannot be told only through numbers or clubs. It’s also the story of a girl from Delhi who once visited Aston Villa in 2015, met former manager Tim Sherwood, and dreamed aloud of playing at the highest level.
Inspired by her idol Neymar, she set sights on representing India in the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup a goal she nearly achieved until COVID intervened.
Even so, Aveka never let setbacks define her. She was there when India’s U16 women’s team beat Pakistan 4–0 in the 2018 AFC U16 Championship qualifiers, scoring in the 22nd minute. A year later, she found the net again when India’s U17 side defeated Hong Kong U18 by 4–1. These moments reflected her natural knack for finding space and creating chances from midfield.
The National Team Question
Despite consistently featuring in youth squads and being called to senior national team camps under coach Thomas Dennerby, Aveka never quite broke into the final senior team lists for major tournaments. Fans and observers have often asked why a player with international experience and foreign exposure was overlooked.
It’s a reminder that selection in national football can be complex, influenced by tactical needs, competition, timing, and sometimes sheer luck. Still, Aveka’s club career now stands as evidence of her ability and dedication, perhaps paving the way for future call-ups.
At just 21, Aveka Singh’s journey is far from its peak. Playing in Denmark will challenge her to raise her technical standards, understand different systems, and handle the physical and mental demands of European football. It also makes her one of the very few Indian women footballers currently active in Europe an inspiration for countless young players back home.
If history has taught us anything, it’s that players who keep pushing, learning, and adapting often get rewarded sometimes later than expected, but rewarded nonetheless.
A Moment to Celebrate
Aveka Singh’s story is not just her own; it symbolises the slow but steady evolution of Indian women’s football. From local leagues in Delhi to college fields in California and now professional pitches in Denmark, it’s a journey that reflects ambition, courage, and a refusal to settle.
As she steps onto the field for Næstved HG, Indian fans will watch with pride and hope not just for Aveka’s goals and assists, but for what her journey represents: that with perseverance, Indian women footballers can indeed play, compete, and shine on the world stage.
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