Preeti Rai
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Preeti Kulung Rai | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 21 November 2004 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Kathmandu, Nepal | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.58 m (5 ft 2 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Midfielder | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current team | Etihad Club | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 24 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| APF FC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023–2024 | Kickstart | 8 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025– | Etihad Club | 4 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021– | Nepal | 21 | (5) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 3 June 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 31 August 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preeti Kulung Rai (Nepali: प्रीति राई; born 21 November 2004) is a Nepalese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Jordan Women's Pro League club Etihad and Nepal national women's team.
Early life
Rai is a native of Solukhumbu District, Nepal. She is the daughter of Chandra Prasad Rai and Gyanmaya Rai.[1] She attended Sharada Academy in Nepal. She started playing football at the age of six.[2]
Club career
In 2025, she joined Jordan Women's Pro League club Etihad Club.[3]
International career
Rai made a remarkable debut for Nepal's national women's football team in a FIFA Friendly match against Bangladesh at Dasharath Stadium on 9 September 2021. At just 16 years old, Rai showed her skills and made an immediate impact by scoring a stunning goal in the 22nd minute.[4]
Rai was part of Nepal women's national football team at the 2024 WAFF Women's Championship. Nepal team finished second place in the tournament.[5]
Style of play
Preeti Rai is primarily known for her role as a midfielder, where her playing style is defined by her playmaking abilities, vision, and technical skills. She has an impressive ability to control the game from the midfield, making precise passes and creating scoring opportunities for her teammates. Her skill in providing accurate and timely assists has made her a valuable asset to both her club and the Nepal National Women's Team.
Statistics
International goals
- As of match played on 21 October 2024
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nepal | |||
| 2021 | 1 | ||
| 2024 | 4 | ||
| Total | 5 | ||
- Scores and results list Nepal's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Rai goal.
- As of match played on 21 October 2024
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 9 September 2021 | Dasharath Rangasala, Kathmandu, Nepal | Bangladesh | 2–1 | 2–1 | FIFA Friendly |
| 2. | 27 February 2024 | Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia | Lebanon | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2024 WAFF Women's Championship |
| 3. | 21 October 2024 | Dasharath Rangasala, Kathmandu, Nepal | Maldives | 1–0 | 11–0 | 2024 SAFF Women's Championship |
| 4. | 7–0 | |||||
| 5. | 10–0 |
References
- ^ "१६ वर्षको उमेरमै महिला राष्ट्रिय फुटबल टिममा 'डेब्यु' गरेकी प्रीति राई". Kendrabindu. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
- ^ "Rising star Preeti Rai sets sights on SAFF Championship redemption - OnlineKhabar English News". 12 March 2024. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
- ^ "Preeti Rai joins Jordan's Etihad Club". Khabarhub English. 12 August 2025. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
- ^ Football, Gorkhali (21 May 2024). "Preeti Rai's debut match for Nepal shines: Player of the match". gorkhalifootball.com. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
- ^ राई, अनिता भेटवाल र गोपेन राई :: फिल्डमा फर्किन आतुर प्रीति. "फिल्डमा फर्किन आतुर प्रीति राई". फिल्डमा फर्किन आतुर प्रीति राई. Retrieved 13 April 2024.