Telangana CM honours Sowmya, Best Player of the Year in football

Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy felicitated international footballer Guguloth Sowmya, Nizamabad native and SBI officer. Sowmya, recently named AIFF Best Player of the Year, is part of India’s women’s team qualifying for the 2026 Asian Football Championship

Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy felicitated international footballer Guguloth Sowmya, who hails from Nizamabad, here on Tuesday.

It may be mentioned that recently Sowmya was adjudged ‘Best Player of the Year’ by the All India Football Federation for her consistently outstanding performances at the highest level.

---

Sowmya was also recruited by the State Bank of India as an officer, becoming the first woman athlete to secure a position under the sports quota. She currently serves as an officer at SBI, holding the distinction of being the first woman sportsperson to enter the bank under the sports quota.

Telangana Football Association President Dr Mohd Ali Rafath and TFA Secretary G P Palguna briefed the Chief Minister about the Indian women’s football team qualifying for the first time for the Asian Football Championship to be held in Australia in April 2026.

The Chief Minister promised continued support to promote football in a big way in the State. He recalled how the State Government extended all help in successfully conducting the Santosh Trophy National Championship in the city recently after a gap of many decades, besides hosting the FIFA Friendly.