Udanta Singh is an Indian professional footballer. He played for Bengaluru FC between 2014 and 2023. A versatile player, Udanta plays in different positions, such as midfielder, attacking midfielder, winger, and forward.
Wiki/Biography
According to some sources, Kumam Udanta Singh was born on Friday, 14 June 1996 (age 27 years; as of 2023) in Leikai Bishnupur, Manipur, India, whereas some sources said that he was born in Moirang, Manipur, India. His zodiac sign is Gemini. Playing in the I-League, Udanta’s uncle, Kumam Samson Singh, became a source of inspiration for him to pursue his football aspirations. Starting with street games in Manipur, Udanta eventually joined the All-India Manipur Football Association (AMFA) to further develop his skills. At the age of 14 in 2010, Udanta attended a trial at the Tata Football Academy, where his exceptional talent shone brightly, leading to his immediate selection.
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 7″
Weight (approx.): 65 kg
Hair Colour: Black
Eye Colour: Black
Family
Parents & Siblings
There is not much information about his parents and siblings.
Wife
Udanta Singh’s marital status is not known.
Relationships/Affairs
Not known.
Career
Football
Domestic
Udanta Singh represented Jharkhand in the National Games held in Ranchi in 2011. Additionally, he played for TFA in renowned tournaments such as the Durand Cup, Darjeeling Gold Cup, Saras Gold Cup, and U20 I-League. Notably, Udanta was selected as a member of the TFA team for an exposure visit to Sheffield United Football Club in the United Kingdom in September 2012. In 2014, he also participated in the India U22 National Camp held in Bengaluru. Later, Udanta attended the All Asia Nike Camp held in Australia in January 2013, where he earned a spot on the All-Star team. Furthermore, Udanta had the opportunity to engage in friendly matches against prominent I-League teams like East Bengal, Churchill Brothers, Bangalore FC, and Salgaocar FC in August 2013 and January 2014. Demonstrating his prowess, Udanta scored four goals during an exposure trip to China, including a remarkable hat-trick against the China U-16 team in August 2013. Two months later, Singh showcased his skills in the AFC U-19 Championship qualification round, contributing significantly despite India’s inability to advance to the next stage. Furthermore, his exceptional performance played a pivotal role in TFA’s triumph in the 2013-14 U-19 I-League, with Udanta emerging as the leading scorer with nine goals. On 15 July 2014, Singh officially joined Bengaluru FC, the then reigning champions of the I-League, India’s top professional league, after signing a professional contract.
Udanta Singh signing the contract with Bengaluru FC
He debuted for the team during the Durand Cup on 30 October 2014 against Mohammedan SC. Udanta entered the field as a substitute in the second half and played the entirety of the half, contributing to Bengaluru FC’s 2-1 victory. In the same tournament, he played in the semi-final match against Salgaocar, once again coming off the bench and successfully converting his penalty in the subsequent shoot-out. However, his efforts were in vain as Bengaluru FC succumbed to a 4-5 loss on penalties. Udanta’s first appearance in the I-League took place on 31 March 2015 in a 4-1 triumph against Sporting Goa, where he replaced Sean Rooney as a substitute. During his debut season in the I-League, he played ten matches for Bengaluru FC and also made three appearances in the AFC Cup and scored a goal. Displaying his skills, he assisted captain Sunil Chhetri in securing the winning goal during an AFC Cup group stage game against Maldivian side Maziya on 28 April 2015. This accomplishment marked Udanta as the youngest Indian player to provide an assist in AFC competitions. Just a few weeks later, on 12 May 2015, he achieved another milestone by scoring his first goal for Bengaluru FC in an AFC Cup match against Persipura Jayapura, despite their eventual 3-1 defeat. This achievement established him as the youngest Indian goal scorer in the AFC Cup. Following the conclusion of the season, Singh’s commendable performances led to a well-deserved two-year contract extension. In the 2015-2016 I-League season, he scored one goal from 12 appearances; he was part of the team which participated in the AFC Cup and played seven matches but did not score any goals.
Udanta Singh celebrating a goal with Sunil Chhetri
He won his first-ever I-League title as the team ended two points ahead of Mohun Bagan and clinched the trophy. In 2015, he won his first-ever domestic title with Bengaluru FC after they won the 2015 Federation Cup. Bengaluru FC decided not to include Udanta in the 2015 Indian Super League draft and instead opted to send him on a training stint at the English club Oxford United, competing in League 2. Bengaluru FC facilitated Udanta’s training with English League Two Club to foster his development. Under the guidance of manager Michael Appleton, the fleet-footed winger underwent training for over a week. Having trained with English League Two team Oxford United in 2015, Udanta Singh had the opportunity to showcase his skills during a match against the Portuguese football club Benfica ‘B’. Although Udanta joined Bengaluru FC at the beginning of the second season, an injury during a pre-season game hampered his progress. Nonetheless, he persisted and eventually secured a place in the squad after making a remarkable recovery. The 2016-2017 I-League season was his final season in the competition as a Bengaluru FC player; he scored three goals from 17 appearances in the league season. During the 2016-2017 season, he made five appearances in all the domestic Cup competitions and managed to score one goal; he also played six matches in the AFC Cup.
Udanta Singh playing in the Indian Super League (ISL)
In 2016, the footballer was part of the Bengaluru FC team which won the I-League Cup. One year later, Bengaluru FC lifted the Federation Cup. In the subsequent year, he briefly joined Mumbai City FC on loan, playing a single match in the 2016 Indian Super League (ISL); this was his first and only loan move during his nine-year stint with Bengaluru FC. In 2016, Udanta contributed significantly to Bengaluru FC’s journey to the AFC Cup final, where unfortunately, they suffered a 1-0 defeat against Iraq’s Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya; Bengaluru FC made history by becoming the first-ever Indian club to reach the final of the AFC Cup. When Bengaluru FC entered the ISL in 2017, Udanta, along with captain Sunil Chettri, was retained by the team. His exceptional speed on the field instantly garnered attention, and season after season, Udanta displayed improvement while transitioning from the I-League to the ISL, amplifying his attacking prowess. During the Blues’ inaugural ISL season, Udanta scored one goal and provided seven assists as Bengaluru FC finished as runners-up. The following season, Udanta played a pivotal role in Bengaluru FC’s lifting of the ISL trophy, stepping up in the absence of Miku due to injury and registering five goals along with three assists.
Udanta Singh bidding farewell to the Bengaluru FC fans after the last match of the season
The winger impressed the crowd with his scintillating form and emerged as one of the fan favourites. However, since then, Udanta has struggled to replicate that same form, managing only six goals and three assists from a total of 72 appearances across the ISL and AFC Cup. Ahead of the 2020-2021 ISL season, the winger announced that he extended his contract with the club for three more years; the new contract ran down till the end of the 2023-2024 season. After nine seasons with Bengaluru FC, Udanta Singh announced his departure from the club. Throughout his time at Bengaluru, he contributed to the team’s success by winning several trophies, including the I-League, Super Cup, Federation Cup, and Super League titles. Throughout 201 matches for the club, Udanta scored 22 goals and provided 22 assists, making him an integral part of the team. His presence played a significant role in Bengaluru FC’s achievements both domestically and internationally. After Bengaluru FC’s title-winning season, the player was not able to relive the way he played and fell down the playing order and was often used as a fringe player; however, he remained one of the most popular players among their fanbase. In 2023, he decided not to extend his contract with Bengaluru FC after the 2022-2023 season. His decision to leave Bengaluru FC attracted many other clubs in the ISL including, East Bengal and Kerala Blasters; however, he reportedly signed a pre-contract with FC Goa for three seasons.
International
In 2016, the winger was named to the Indian Under-23 football team for the South Asian Games held in Guwahati, India, between 6 February 2016 and 15 February 2016; India Under-23 won the Silver medal in the competition. On 24 March 2016, Udanta Singh made his debut for the Indian national football team against Iran during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers round held at Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Iran; the footballer played the whole match as India suffered a humiliating 4-0 defeat against the home team. Despite delivering noteworthy performances for the Indian national team, the versatile winger was unable to replicate the same level of success he had achieved at the junior level. Unfortunately, the limited number of matches played by the Indian team hindered his progress, as he only had the opportunity to participate in eight matches between March 2016 and 2017. Taking part in the 2018 Intercontinental Cup, also recognized as the 2018 Hero Intercontinental Cup, held at the Mumbai Football Arena, marked his inaugural significant international tournament.
Udanta Singh playing for the Indian national football team
During the opening group stage match of the tournament on 1 June 2018, he achieved his first-ever international goal against the Chinese Taipei national football team, contributing to a resounding 5-0 triumph. Displaying his skills throughout the competition, the winger featured in all four matches. In a remarkable feat, India emerged victorious in the final against Kenya, securing a 2-0 victory and claiming the prestigious trophy. Singh was part of the Indian national football team for the 2019 King’s Cup, which was organised by the Football Association of Thailand; the competition was held in Buriram, Thailand, between 5 June 2019 and 8 June 2019. India finished the tournament in third place; India defeated Thailand in the third-place playoff match. In 2021, he was named to the Indian national football team’s squad for the South Asian Football Federation Championship (SAFF Cup); they defeated Nepal in the final and lifted the Cup. In 2023, he was named to the Indian national football team for the 2023 SAFF Championship. On 21 June 2023, he scored his second international goal against Pakistan in a 4-0 victory in the group stage match of the competition. He started the semi-final match against Lebanon as a 90th-minute substitute as the match ended goalless in the normal time. The match moved onto a penalty shootout as the teams failed to score the winner during the extra time. The footballer came in at number four to take the penalty and successfully converted it to seal India’s 4-2 victory and helped the team reach the final.
Awards, Honours
- 2014: Tata Football Academy – Best Gentleman Cadet
- 2016: Football Players Association of India (FPAI) – Young Player of the Year
Favourites
- Footballers: Ronaldo and Lionel Messi
- Sportsperson: Roger Federer and Usian Bolt
Facts/Trivia
- Dubbed ‘The Flash’ by enthusiastic Bengaluru FC supporters, the footballer earned this moniker owing to his formidable speed while operating on the right wing. Time and again, his lightning-quick sprints proved invaluable for both the Blue Tigers and Bengaluru FC.
Fans with posters of Udanta Singh as The Flash
- He wore the #15 number jersey for the Indian national football team between March 2016 and July 2023; he wore the #21 number jersey for the Bengaluru FC between 2014 and 2023 in the I-League, AFC Cup, and the Indian Super League.
Udanta Singh ahead of a match with the Indian national football team
- While speaking about his relationship with the Indian football captain Sunil Chhetri, in an interview, Singh revealed that Sunil was like a mentor to him and shared a few memorable moments between them. During the winger’s first international game against Iran, Sunil paid close attention to Singh and reminded him to be composed and pointed out to him to enjoy the game by harnessing his strengths effectively. Udanta Singh pointed out that Chhetri’s constant encouragement has played a significant role in his growth as a professional footballer. The winger further added that the captain maintains an open line of communication with everyone on the team. He added that one of his most cherished moments on the field with Chhetri was when Sunil scored against Myanmar, on a pass by him.
A snippet of Udanta Kumam’s post on Twitter
- While speaking about his personal life, in an interview, the footballer revealed that he was an ardent fan of the video game series, PUBG: Battlegrounds; however, he pointed out that he quit playing the game after a while. According to him, as a professional footballer, his biggest strength is patience. He recalled his initial days at the Tata Football Academy and pointed out that it was the training and facilities which were provided at the institute that changed him as a professional and as an individual and dedicated his success to the TFA. He was named the Best Gentleman Cadet during his stay at the TFA.
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education