Udanta Singh Kumam (born 14 June 1996) is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Indian Super League club Goa.

Udanta Singh
Udanta (middle) trying a header during 2019 AFC Asian Cup group match against Thailand
Personal information
Full name Udanta Singh Kumam[1]
Date of birth (1996-06-14) 14 June 1996 (age 28)[2]
Place of birth Moirang, Manipur, India[3]
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
Goa
Number 15
Youth career
2010–2014 Tata Football Academy
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2023 Bengaluru 147 (15)
2016Mumbai City (loan) 1 (0)
2023– Goa 10 (1)
International career
2013–2016 India U19 4 (1)
2016 India U23 4 (3)
2016–2024 India 48 (2)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  India
SAFF Championship
Winner 2021 Maldives
Winner 2023 India
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:23, 7 January 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22:00, 21 September 2024 (UTC)

Club career

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Early career

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Born in Moirang, Manipur, Singh started his youth career at the Tata Football Academy.[4] While at TFA, Singh shined at the academy during the Darjeeling Gold Cup, Saras Gold Cup, and the I-League U19 in 2014.[5] He also represented the state of Jharkhand during the 2011 National Games of India.[6][2] Singh also represented India during the Nike All Asia Camp in Australia, which he, and his teammate Alen Deory, were selected for the All-Star team.[7][1] Singh left Tata Football Academy, after helping his side win the 2014 I-League U19,[8] and in the process, he became the golden-boot winner with his nine goals during the tournament.[9]

Bengaluru

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On 15 July 2014 it was announced that Singh had signed a professional contract with Bengaluru the reigning champions of the I-League, the topmost professional league in India.[10] He made his debut for the side during the Durand Cup on 30 October 2014 against Mohammedan. He came off the bench for the start of the second half and played the full half as Bengaluru FC won the match 2–1.[11] He then made his professional debut during the same tournament at the semi-final stage when Bengaluru FC took on Salgaocar. He once again came off the bench and scored his penalty during the penalty shoot-out but could not help his teams cause as Bengaluru FC fell on penalties 4–5.[12] Udanta made his I-League debut in a 4–1 win against Sporting Goa on 31 March 2015, coming on as a substitute for Sean Rooney.[13] Udanta assisted skipper Sunil Chhetri for the winner in an AFC Cup group stage game against Maldivian side Maziya on 28 April 2015, thus becoming the youngest Indian player to provide an assist in AFC competitions.[14][15] He scored his first goal for Bengaluru on 12 May 2015 in an AFC Cup game, where he opened the scoring in an eventual 3–1 defeat to Persipura Jayapura, thus becoming the youngest Indian goal scorer in AFC Cup.[16]

After the season ended, Singh was rewarded with a two-year contract extension.[17] Udanta was excluded from the 2015 Indian Super League draft by Bengaluru FC, opting to send him on a training stint at English club Oxford United in the EFL League 2.[18][19]

Udanta scored his first I-League goal of the 2015–16 season on 2 March 2016 against Shillong Lajong, in a game where he was adjudged the man of the match.[20]

In the first league game of the 2016–17 season Udanta scored twice as Bengaluru beat Shillong Lajong 3–0. Afterwards Udanta was named man of the match with his second goals being described as a "beautiful volley."[21] He was also named as player of the week by a newspaper for his performance in that match.[22]

Udanta scored a goal and assisted 7 times for Bengaluru during the 2017–18 Indian Super League season during which his team finished as runners-up. He also was a regular for his team during the AFC Cup where he scored once. For the 2018–19 ISL season, Singh scored 5 times and assisted thrice as his team ran out champions of the tournament. He scored a goal in the 2018 AFC Cup as well.

International career

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Udanta was selected to join the India U19 team in 2013 for the AFC U-19 Championship qualification[2] where he started all 4 of India's matches, scoring once against Turkmenistan U19s.[23][24][25][26] Udanta had his senior debut on 24 March 2016 in a qualifying match against Iran.[27]

On 1 June 2018, he scored his first goal in India's 5–0 victory over Chinese Taipei.

Career statistics

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Club

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As of 19 March 2023[28]
Club Season League Cup[29] AFC Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Bengaluru 2014–15 I-League 10 0 0 0 3 1 13 1
2015–16 12 1 2 0 7 0 21 1
2016–17 17 3 5 1 6 0 28 4
2017–18 Indian Super League 19 1 4 1 9 2 32 4
2018–19 19 5 1 0 2 0 21 5
2019–20 19 1 0 0 3 0 22 1
2020–21 17 1 0 0 1 0 18 1
2021–22 17 3 0 0 3 1 20 4
2022–23 17 0 10 1 0 0 27 1
Bengaluru total 147 15 22 3 34 4 203 22
Mumbai City (loan) 2016 Indian Super League 1 0 1 0
Career total 148 15 22 3 34 4 204 22

International

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As of 21 November 2023[30]
National team Year Apps Goals
India 2016 4 0
2017 4 0
2018 7 1
2019 12 0
2021 7 0
2022 5 0
2023 9 1
Total 48 2

International goals

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India score listed first, score column indicates score after each Udanta goal.[30]
List of international goals scored by Udanta Singh Kumam
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
1 1 June 2018 Mumbai Football Arena, Mumbai, India 10   Chinese Taipei 3–0 5–0 2018 Intercontinental Cup [31]
2 21 June 2023 Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru, India 42   Pakistan 4–0 4–0 2023 SAFF Championship [32]

Honours

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India

India U23

Tata Football Academy

Bengaluru

Individual

References

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  1. ^ a b Achal, Ashwin (20 February 2013). "Learn from the pros". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 14 June 2014. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d "Best Gentleman Cadet". Tata Football Academy. Archived from the original on 6 November 2014. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
  3. ^ Damohe, Shivam (23 March 2017). "Udanta Singh, the latest footballer from Manipur's conveyor belt, starting to fulfill his promise". firstpost.com. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  4. ^ "Top 10 Tata Football Academy graduates of all-time". Khel Now. 29 June 2021. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  5. ^ Shivade, Sushrut (14 June 2020). "Happy Birthday Udanta Singh: A look at Udanta's journey so far » FirstSportz". firstsportz.com. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  6. ^ Shivade, Sushrut (14 June 2020). "Happy Birthday Udanta Singh: A look at Udanta's journey so far » FirstSportz". firstsportz.com. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  7. ^ "Udanta Singh Biography, Achievements, Career info, Records & Stats - Sportskeeda". www.sportskeeda.com. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  8. ^ "U-19 I-League Focus: Tata Football Academy | Hero I-League". Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  9. ^ "Tata Academy win U-19 I-League". The Shillong Times. 30 April 2014. Archived from the original on 6 November 2014. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
  10. ^ "BFC make three new signings". Bengaluru FC. Archived from the original on 18 July 2014. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
  11. ^ "Bengaluru FC beat Mohammedan to begin Durand challenge with a win". Bengaluru FC. Archived from the original on 2 November 2014. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
  12. ^ "Bengaluru suffer shootout heartbreak in Durand semis". Bengaluru FC. Archived from the original on 6 November 2014. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
  13. ^ Harsh Shah; Sahil Srivastava (31 March 2015). "Bengaluru FC 4–1 Sporting Clube de Goa: Blues bank on Ralte show to down Flaming Oranje". Goal.com. Archived from the original on 3 April 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  14. ^ Noronha, Anselm (28 April 2015). "Maziya S & RC 1–2 Bengaluru FC: A Chhetri double sees the Blues ensure AFC Cup progress". Goal.com. Archived from the original on 29 April 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  15. ^ "Bengaluru make last 16 of AFC Cup with resilient win over Maziya". Bengaluru FC. 28 April 2015. Archived from the original on 5 May 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  16. ^ Kaustav Bera (12 May 2015). "Bengaluru FC 1–3 Persipura Jayapura: Westwood's side to face South China in round of 16". Goal.com. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  17. ^ "Lyngdoh, Walker pen new Bengaluru FC deals". Bengaluru FC. 17 June 2015. Archived from the original on 18 June 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  18. ^ Chandra, Shikharr (21 July 2015). "Udanta Singh to train with League two side Oxford United". Goal.com. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  19. ^ Pritchard, David (18 December 2015). "Triallist Udanta Singh thanks Oxford United after returning to India with Bengaluru FC". www.oxfordmail.co.uk. Oxford Mail. Archived from the original on 29 March 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  20. ^ Parasar, Swapnaneel; Goswami, Nabarun. "I-League: Shillong Lajong 0–2 Bengaluru FC: Blues close the gap at the top by a point". goal.com. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  21. ^ "I-League 2017: Bengaluru FC 3-0 Shillong Lajong - Electrifying Udanta leaves Lajong in shock". goal.com. 7 January 2017. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  22. ^ Soumalya Moitra (9 January 2017). "I-League 2017: Player of the Week – Udanta Singh". Sportskeeda. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  23. ^ "AFC U-19 CHAMPIONSHIP 2014". The-afc.com. Archived from the original on 13 July 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  24. ^ "AFC U-19 CHAMPIONSHIP 2014". The-afc.com. Archived from the original on 13 July 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  25. ^ "AFC U-19 CHAMPIONSHIP 2014". The-afc.com. Archived from the original on 13 July 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  26. ^ "AFC U-19 CHAMPIONSHIP 2014". The-afc.com. Archived from the original on 13 July 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  27. ^ Mitra, Atanu (24 March 2016). "World Cup Qualifiers: 5 talking points from the Iran – India encounter". Goal.com. Archived from the original on 4 May 2016. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  28. ^ Udanta Singh Kumam at Soccerway
  29. ^ Includes Federation Cup, Durand Cup & Super Cup
  30. ^ a b Udanta Singh Kumam at National-Football-Teams.com
  31. ^ "India 5–0 Chinese Taipei". soccerway.com. 1 June 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  32. ^ "India 4–0 Pakistan". soccerway.com. 21 June 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  33. ^ "Superstar: Jeje Lalpekhlua named FPAI Player of the Year". Press Trust of India. 26 April 2016. Archived from the original on 29 April 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
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