NEWS
Her father wanted her to play tennis because there is no scope in football. She loved football and was ready to create all the scope needed! Can you guess who is this sportsperson we are talking about?
She is none other than our champion goalkeeper Aditi Chauhan. Aditi started playing football in school for fun. Soon she realized how much she loved the sport and it became her dream.
With a lot of hard work, Aditi has come a really long. She has grappled with some tough decisions, some injuries, and much successes. What inspired her to keep playing and what are her future plans? Let us find out!
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Aditi Chauhan |
| Age | 26 |
| Sport Category | Football ( Goalkeeper) |
| Date of Birth | 20 November 1992 |
| Hometown | Delhi, India |
| Achievement | Women in Football Award |
| Parent | A V Chauhan (father) |
| Teams Played for | University of Delhi, Loughborough University, West Ham United Ladies, India Rush National Team, India U-19, Indian Women Football Team |
Aditi’s father A V Chauhan is the Inspector General of CRPF, Jammu. Aditi moved to New Delhi with her family when she was nine years old. Aditi’s grandmother, a former athlete herself, played a key role in motivating Aditi.
As a school student, Aditi participated in zonal and inter-zonal porting events for discus throw, javelin throw, and shot put. She also played basketball and represented her school team as well as the Delhi state team.
Aditi’s coaches suggested that she try out as a football goalkeeper due to her athletic build. Destiny played a huge part as football turned out to be her forte soon and she started excelling in it.
Aditi became a part of the India Under-19 team when she was just 17 years old. The 2012 SAFF Women’s Championship in Sri Lanka is the most memorable tournament for her. Being a part of the winning squad was a huge honour.
Aditi started playing for Loughborough University while studying there. After her studies, she began her internship with Decathlon. She also began trying out for Millwall.
Unfortunately, she wasn’t eligible to play for them on her student visa. However, her goalkeeping coach used to train at West Ham as well. On her advice, she tried out there. The most special moment of her career was perhaps the selection for West Ham United Ladies football club. The club is highly prestigious and a part of the Football Association’s (FA) Women’s Premier League Southern Division. With this feat, she became the first Indian woman to join a top English football club.
February 2017 was a tough month for Aditi, and so was the period that followed. Continuing from one high to another, our champion suddenly faced a huge obstacle. An ACL injury was all set to hamper her career. Aditi was very resilient through the long recovery. She went though with the surgery and work hard throughout the rehabilitation process. She was fortunate enough to have friends and family who supported her in this tough period.
“At the age of 17, I got selected for the under-19 national team camp and was away from home for almost three months for the first time. But I did not let it get to me because my aim was very clear – to be the first-choice goalkeeper for the team. I trained hard and achieved it. I represented the under-19 Indian national women’s team for AFC Qualifiers at Malaysia,” Aditi told the Hindustan Times.
Success at a young age can be a curse as well. It is very easy to get swayed and take things for granted. However, Aditi has always emphasized hard work and consistent training. Six days of intense training is part of her regular schedule. Also, she ups the intensity during national camps and before major leagues.
Time and again, she has spoken about the importance of education as well. It is extremely heartening to see a grounded sports star who is inspiring numerous young girls in a wholesome way!
College Career
Senior Career
National Team
Aditi is fully aware that she cannot keep playing football forever. This is precisely why she decided to get a degree in sports management. Even after she stops playing actively, she wants to continue working in this field and utilize her knowledge to uplift the lives of others.
Staying in England, and playing for their clubs has definitely brought a fresh perspective for Aditi. There’s a lot to learn from their method of working. However, Aditi doesn’t believe in comparing the football scene in both countries.
“We have to accept the fact that the history of football in Europe is very old while the football culture in our country is new. It is very unfair to compare the two. Football is their main port and it will take time to match their standard”, she told the Times of India.
Of course, we have a long way to go. However, let’s hope that stars like Aditi Chauhan bring fresh energy to the game!
Aditi has played abroad and knows how things are there. Seeing the abundant potential in Indian football made her launch her own initiative, known as She Kicks Football Academy (SKFA).
Being a footballer herself she is aware of how much work is required at the grassroots level to move India’s football potential in the right direction. And She Kicks Football Academy just aims for the same.
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