Who is Purnima Rai? Nepal’s four-goal hero in SAFF U-20 opener

Purnima Rai, a rising forward from Koshi Province, delivered a stunning four-goal performance in Nepal’s 6-1 win over Bhutan in the opening match of the SAFF U-20 Women’s Championship 2025 held in Dhaka. Her clinical finishing and attacking instinct have now put her in the spotlight as one of Nepal’s most promising young footballers.

Rai scored in the 18th, 53rd, 83rd, and 88th minutes, helping Nepal secure a dominant start to the tournament. Her goals not only secured the win but also made her the top scorer of the competition after just one match.

The 20-year-old currently plays for Koshi Province in the ANFA Women’s League, Nepal’s top-tier domestic women’s football competition. During the 2024 season, she played nine matches, starting all of them, and recorded 2 goals and 3 assists across 766 minutes of play.

Although her goal tally in the league was modest, Rai showed glimpses of her attacking ability in matches against teams like Sudurpaschim and Karnali. Her standout performances included a brace against Karnali Province on September 8, where she also registered an assist, and another goal against SUD on September 26.

Rai’s explosive performance for the national team, however, has far exceeded her league form, suggesting her potential to deliver on the big stage. Her ability to find space, time her runs, and finish confidently has made her one to watch in the ongoing tournament.

Born and raised in Nepal, Rai represents a new generation of female footballers who are beginning to make their mark in both domestic and international competitions. Her showing against Bhutan is expected to boost her profile and inspire more opportunities at the national level.

With Nepal set to face Bangladesh in their next group match, all eyes will be on Purnima Rai to continue her goal-scoring form and help her team advance in the tournament.

Note: Playing stats is upto 2024.