Sudeep Pakrashi:
Aditi Chauhan, the first Indian woman to have played professional football in Europe, announced her retirement after a 17-year-long career at the age of 32. The former national goalkeeper, whose European journey included two seasons with West Ham, returned to India in 2018 and joined Gokulam FC, winning two Indian Women’s League titles. In the last season, she represented Sreebhumi FC, playing a crucial role in guiding the team to secure third place in the IWL.
When asked about the reasons behind the decision to say goodbye, Aditi revealed while speaking to Parallel Sports on Friday morning, “I have been thinking multiple issues for long time to create a new reality where the women footballers can make some impressive earnings as we all know that women’s football has not yet been able to provide quality earnings. So, such thoughts influenced me, and secondly, I was feeling that I should create space for the promising young goalkeepers in the national team.”
Having earned 57 caps with the Indian national team, Aditi’s final appearance with the Blue Tigresses came in a friendly against Nepal in February 2023, soon after which she was sidelined by her second ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) injury. She suffered her first ACL injury in 2017 during her time spent with English side West Ham Ladies (now West Ham United women’s team).
What will she miss? Aditi smilingly replied, “Enjoying time with footballer friends every day, during the training, before and after the matches.”
When asked about her fond memories, Aditi did not hesitate to say, “Winning SAFF with the senior national team, playing for West Ham were all sweet memories.”
Aditi has a non-residential coaching project named ‘She Kicks Football Academy. It is also registered as a club in Delhi women’s football.
Now, the goalkeeper is nurturing dreams to produce footballers of international standard in the future. Especially, she seems tenacious in producing quality goalkeepers for the future.
“I completed the AFC Level-One Goalkeeping course. I learned more about the technicalities of goalkeeping and how to reach the top level. Naturally, I have a desire to share my knowledge and expertise with the promising young girls who would like to become goalkeepers,” explained Aditi.
She is also aiming to modernize her coaching school. “Now, 30 girls are there. I am trying to provide infrastructural support for them, especially by tracking and monitoring their injuries. I was the sufferer. My career would have been longer if I had not had to face two ACL injuries and operations. Even, I have been talking to some of the companies for their support to install modern equipment at my academy for the young footballers in the future, “added Aditi.
Aditi, who also received offers from a few IWL teams to play in the coming season, divulged that she is also keeping an option open to join any IWL team as a goalkeeping coach.
The former India international, delighted by the national women’s qualification for the Asian Cup main phase, said, “It is great news for India’s women’s football. But the final phase of the Asian Cup is a different ball-game. You have to compete against the toughest teams of Asia in the final round. So I feel Indian women need quality exposure matches to earn competence.”
