Aditi believes more girls will emulate national team striker Devi, who
last year became the first Indian woman to play in a top-flight professional
league in Europe.
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Agencies:India women’s
football team goalkeeper Aditi Chauhan feels that with the growth in profile of
the game in the country, more players will follow the footsteps of trailblazer
Bala Devi, who ventured out of the country in search of a professional career.
Women’s football is expected
to get a boost with India hosting the FIFA U-17 World Cup next year and the AFC
Asian Cup in 2022. Aditi believes more girls will emulate national team striker
Devi, who last year became the first Indian woman to play in a top-flight
professional league in Europe. She now plays in Scottish Premier League with
Glasgow-based Rangers.
“There is so much potential in India. I want
more girls to get such exposures, and learn from playing against better
opponents. With more avenues for younger girls coming up, I am sure there will
be others who will follow in Bala’s footsteps. Bala is a gem of a player and
her move to Rangers is amazing,” Chauhan was quoted as saying in an AIFF
release.
Chauhan, 27, herself had
played in England for London-based West Ham Ladies between 2015 and 2018,
though not in the top-tier league, when she was pursuing her studies in the UK.
“The standard of play, the culture is so different. It’s a total professional
set-up in Europe. The experience which she will gain will benefit not just her
(Devi), but Indian football in general,” she said.
“Whenever she comes back to play for the
National Team, we’d eagerly wait to hear about her experiences. I am sure
she’ll love to share all of that – especially with the U-17 girls. Her
knowledge will matter a lot shaping the career of younger girls.”
Chauhan, who has earned 15
caps for the country since making debut in 2012, also said women’s football has
now become more pan-Indian and gone are the day when the Manipuri players
completely dominated the national team.
“When I first started playing for the national
team, it was majorly dominated by players from Manipur. But it has become more
of a diverse team now. The team now has a pan Indian representation,” she said.
“The competition for places in the team has
grown – everyone is pushing each other. No one is comfortable as there are new
kids coming from all over and securing slots in the squad. That’s how the team
has grown, and the results have come out so well.”
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