Thivashini Sivakumar : A Young Malaysian Indian Footballer Who Refused to Let Stereotypes Define Her

At just 20, Thivashini Sivakumar is already proving that passion, perseverance and self-belief can take a young footballer far beyond the boundaries others may place on her.

The Selangor women’s football winger recently played a part in the state’s SUKMA 2026 gold medal triumph, but her journey to the top was anything but easy. Behind the achievement is a young Malaysian Indian footballer who has spent years challenging stereotypes, overcoming an ACL injury and refusing to let difficult moments convince her to walk away from the sport she loves.

Thivashini started playing football at the age of six, often playing alongside boys who were older and physically stronger than her. Rather than feeling intimidated, those experiences helped her develop confidence and taught her to trust her abilities.

Growing up, however, she regularly heard comments suggesting that football was a sport for boys and that girls would eventually lose interest in the game.

For Thivashini, those words became motivation rather than discouragement. She wanted to show that girls could continue playing football as they grew older, compete at a high level and achieve something meaningful in the sport.

Her journey also saw her face one of her biggest challenges, an ACL injury that kept her away from the game and forced her through a prolonged period of rehabilitation, treatment and medication.

The physical recovery was difficult, but the mental battle was even harder. There were moments when Thivashini questioned whether football was still meant for her. She recalled crying herself to sleep and wondering what her future in the sport would look like.

At one point, she came close to giving up. But a small part of her continued to hold on to hope. That hope, together with the unwavering support of her family, eventually helped her find her way back to the pitch.

During her recovery, her parents made major sacrifices to ensure she could access proper rehabilitation. Her mother, sister and brother helped her stay on track with her medication and recovery, while her father worked overnight and sacrificed his own sleep to support her.

For Thivashini, her football achievements can never be seen as hers alone. Much of what she has accomplished, she believes, belongs to her family too.

Today, representing Selangor is a source of immense pride for the young winger. She credits the team, coaches and manager for helping her build confidence and supporting her through difficult moments.

Her journey has also given her a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by female footballers. Thivashini believes women athletes sometimes have to work harder to prove themselves, particularly in a country where women’s football has historically received less recognition. However, she is encouraged by the emergence of new talents and the growing attention towards the women’s game.

For her, being part of that change is an honour. She also hopes more young girls will have female footballers to look up to. Brazilian football icon Marta is one of the players who has inspired her, particularly because of Marta’s humble beginnings and her own experience of growing up without many female football role models in football.

And Thivashini has a simple message for girls who dream of playing the sport:

Football is for everyone.

If they love the game, she believes they should pursue it regardless of what others say. The people who doubt them today, she says, may one day see just how far their determination has taken them.

From a six-year-old girl playing alongside older boys to a 20-year-old representing Selangor and celebrating SUKMA gold, Thivashini’s story is more than a sporting achievement.

It is a story about refusing to be defined by stereotypes, finding strength through adversity and holding on to a dream even when giving up seems easier. For this young Malaysian Indian footballer, the journey is far from over.