Liu’s assured performance helped the hosts open their AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup™ China 2025 campaign with a 3-1 win against Australia on Tuesday, as she made a collection of top saves in the Group A encounter.

In front of a capacity crowd of 1,792 at the Hohhot Sports Centre, the 25-year-old revelled in the home support as one of the 11 players in the 14-strong squad who are making their tournament debut.

“We had prepared for this match for a long time, and the coach also told us to have confidence…so the whole team gave it their all,” Liu told the-AFC.com.

“The arrival of the fans gave us a lot of encouragement. There’s a big difference between playing in an empty stadium and having so many supporters cheering for us.”

Regarded as one of the most promising talents to emerge in women’s futsal in China PR, Liu made the switch from 11-a-side over six years ago and was called up to the national team at the end of 2018.

“I have loved football since second grade,” said the native of Fuyang, a suburban district of Hangzhou, Zhejiang. “At that time, my school had a football team, and after class, I would always play with them.”

After footballing activities resumed fully in 2022 due to the COVID-enforced hiatus and the national team was reassembled, Liu has gone from strength to strength in her futsal career. 

At the 2024 FISU World University Championships Futsal in Shanghai, she was named Best Goalkeeper as she helped Yunnan Agricultural University finish third. Coupled with her outstanding displays at club level for Hangzhou Lingping FC, Liu was shortlisted for the most prestigious award in the country - the Golden Ball for futsal players at the 2024 China Football Awards, an achievement made more special by the fact that it was staged in Hangzhou for the first time.

Currently a physical education teacher at Anhui University, Liu is determined to inspire the next generation and knows that one of the best ways to do so is to make it to the biggest global stage - the FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup Philippines 2025.

“Our small goal here in Hohhot is to get through the group stage, and the big goal for the whole team is to finish in the top three and qualify for the World Cup.”