Latest news with #AditiChauhan
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Sport
- New Indian Express
Didn't know that a national women's football team existed when I started out: Aditi Chauhan
NEW DELHI: Aditi Chauhan says she didn't know that a national women's football team existed in India when she kicked the ball for the first time. Nearly two decades later, she retires as a trailblazer, having become the first Indian woman to play professional football in Europe. "Playing football, I didn't know there was a national team first of all. So I started because of the fun of the game," the 32-year-old recalled in an interview with PTI Videos. "When I started, I never imagined that, you know, everything that I was not even a dream that I could imagine," she said. Chauhan is not entering full-time coaching immediately but is open to helping out the next generation of players achieve their goals in top-flight football and for that, she is pursuing professional courses. The former India women's team goalkeeper, who has announced her retirement from the game after a career spanning 17 years, during which time she has won many laurels with the national team as well as with her clubs, now wants to focus on developing new players. "I would love to. These last few years also, I've been mentoring the other goalkeepers. I enjoy that role," she said. She's completed her goalkeeping level 1 coaching course and wants to do more. "I don't want to commit that I want to get into coaching. But yes, I would definitely like to help out," the former India women's number one custodian said.
NDTV
2 days ago
- Sport
- NDTV
"Never Imagined That...": Aditi Chauhan Reflects On Her Retirement From Football
Aditi Chauhan says she didn't know that a national women's football team existed in India when she kicked the ball for the first time. Nearly two decades later, she retires as a trailblazer, having become the first Indian woman to play professional football in Europe. "Playing football, I didn't know there was a national team first of all. So I started because of the fun of the game," the 32-year-old recalled in an interview with PTI Videos. "When I started, I never imagined that, you know, everything that I achieved... it was not even a dream that I could imagine," she said. Chauhan is not entering full-time coaching immediately but is open to helping out the next generation of players achieve their goals in top-flight football and for that, she is pursuing professional courses. The former India women's team goalkeeper, who has announced her retirement from the game after a career spanning 17 years, during which time she has won many laurels with the national team as well as with her clubs, now wants to focus on developing new players. "I would love to. These last few years also, I've been mentoring the other goalkeepers. I enjoy that role," she said. She's completed her goalkeeping level 1 coaching course and wants to do more. "I don't want to commit that I want to get into coaching. But yes, I would definitely like to help out," the former India women's number one custodian said. During a successful international career, Chauhan, who caught everyone's attention after being signed up by West Ham United for the Women's Super League in England in 2015, donned the India jersey 57 times and, among others, was part of the senior teams that won the SAFF Women's Championship in 2012, 2016 and 2019. She has also won gold medals at the South Asian Games. But it wasn't just the highs that defined her career. After suffering two ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) injuries, Chauhan fought her way back to the field to reclaim "something personal". "Last year when I came back from my second ACL and played the IWL, my whole reason for coming back... was to find that joy again. I didn't want to leave football on a sour note with an injury," said the former India shot stopper. "There were other goalkeepers playing. So, I had to again earn that spot in starting 11... I knew that once I'm back on the field, I'll earn my number one spot. And I did." She spent two seasons with West Ham before returning to India in early 2018, and then joined Gokulam Kerala FC for the 2019-20 Indian Women's League (IWL). At the domestic level, Chauhan won the IWL title with Gokulam Kerala FC in 2019-20 and 2021-22 besides reaching the semi-finals of the AFC Women's Club Championship and securing a third-place finish. She led a young team from the bottom of the table to a top-three finish in the IWL. But even as she performed at the highest level, retirement loomed. "I felt as long as I'm playing, I'll always compete for number one spot. And that means that no one else will be able to... So that was also a part of that decision to kind of step aside and let the young guns take it from here," she added. Asked about the national women's team qualifying for the AFC Asian Cup recently, she said, "I truly believe we can make it to the World Cup if we have the right planning and on-ground execution of things. This is the result of the preparation that we did for the Asia Cup and I think it is beautiful." Her initiative 'SheKicks' is committed to building a professional ecosystem for young female footballers in the country. "If I had the right professional setup around me, I wouldn't have to retire... I don't want a youngster to feel that way. That they didn't have the right resources, that's why they couldn't achieve their full potential," she said.
News18
2 days ago
- Sport
- News18
'For The Fun Of The Game': Aditi Chauhan Reflects On Dream Career Following Retirement
Last Updated: The shot-stopper, who has 57 caps for the Blue Tigresses, reminisced on her 17-year career, which she termed unimaginable at the beginning of the journey. Former Indian goalkeeper Aditi Chauhan, who called time on her decorated career on Thursday, reflected on her journey in the sport following her decision to hang up her gloves. The shot-stopper, who has 57 caps for the Blue Tigresses, reminisced on her 17-year career, which she termed unimaginable at the beginning of the adventure. 'Playing football, I didn't know there was a national team first of all. So I started because of the fun of the game," she opened up. 'When I started, I never imagined that, you know, everything that I achieved," the 32-year-old continued. 'It was not even a dream that I could imagine," the custodian said. Chauhan, who played for Women's Super League side West Ham in 2016, was part of the Indian national team that won the SAFF Women's Championship in 2012, 2016, and 2019. Chauhan expressed her desire to give back to the game by helping mold the next generation of players starting at the grassroot level. 'I would love to. These last few years also, I've been mentoring the other goalkeepers. I enjoy that role," she said. 'I don't want to commit that I want to get into coaching. But yes, I would definitely like to help out," the former India women's number one custodian said. Chauhan also touched upon the challenges she faced during her stint on the sidelines due to ACL injuries twice over and what kept her going through he testing phase. 'Last year when I came back from my second ACL and played the IWL, my whole reason for coming back was to find that joy again. I didn't want to leave football on a sour note with an injury," she said. 'There were other goalkeepers playing. So, I had to again earn that spot in starting 11… I knew that once I'm back on the field, I'll earn my number one spot. And I did." After a two-year stint at West Ham, she returned to India in early 2018 and joined Gokulam Kerala FC for the 2019-20 Indian Women's League. She led Gokulam Kerala FC to victory in the Indian Women's League in 2019-20 and 2021-22, reached the semi-finals of the AFC Women's Club Championship, and secured a third-place finish at the domestic level. 'I felt as long as I'm playing, I'll always compete for number one spot. And that means that no one else will be able to… So that was also a part of that decision to kind of step aside and let the young guns take it from here," she added. 'If I had the right professional setup around me, I wouldn't have to retire… I don't want a youngster to feel that way. That they didn't have the right resources, that's why they couldn't achieve their full potential," she said. view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
Aditi Chauhan on retirement plans, time at West Ham United, and Indian women's football
Throughout her career, Aditi Chauhan's motto was to keep competing for the number one spot, which most goalkeepers vie for. On Wednesday, the 32-year-old thought it to be the perfect time to hang up her gloves and announce retirement from professional football. 'There have been multiple factors that have influenced the decision. It's been challenging to play while trying to secure my future without the right infrastructure and ecosystem around me. At some point, you ask yourself, 'How long can I be doing this?' and 'Should I be doing this?'. For an answer to that, lately [it] was, 'maybe not anymore',' she told Sportstar, a day after calling time on her 17-year career. 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). In the 2024-25 Indian Women's League season—her final one—Aditi helped newly-promoted Sribhumi FC end the campaign with a creditable third-place finish while keeping three clean sheets. It was during the season that the seasoned custodian realised it was time for the young guns to take it from here. In the 2024-25 Indian Women's League season – her final one – Aditi (second from right) helped newly-promoted Sribhumi FC end the campaign with a creditable third-place finish. | Photo Credit: Aditi Chauhan@Instagram Lessons from England During her Honours days at Delhi University (DU), Aditi was part of the DU girls' football team, which was taken to New Zealand for an exposure trip. That's when she discovered the world of sports that's beyond the pitch. 'I wanted to stay involved in sports, even after I stopped playing football,' she recalled. It didn't take long for her to leave the world of commerce behind to pursue a post-graduate degree in sports management at Loughborough University in the United Kingdom. 'The whole experience of living abroad alone, trying to figure out different things, studying, then ending up at West Ham; that was all through my effort, curiosity, and passion,' Aditi added. In 2015, she became the first Indian woman to play league football in England after she joined West Ham, a third-division side then. In 2015, Aditi (extreme right) became the first Indian woman to play league football in England after she joined West Ham, a third-division side then. | Photo Credit: Aditi Chauhan@Instagram The couple of years spent in London, juggling football and a part-time job to keep visa issues at bay, gave her a unique perspective of what a professional system looked like and the kind of ecosystem a player needed around them to excel. Future of Indian women's football Aditi also acknowledged how opportunities to play abroad have become more accessible. 'The talent was always there. There's more attention being given to women's football now. They realise the talent that can play in Europe and professional clubs. It's great to see these players step out of their comfort zone and test themselves.' Some of these players, like Manisha Kalyan and Somya Guguloth, to name a few, were part of the Indian team which qualified for next year's AFC Women's Asian Cup. Aditi, who was part of the 2022 Asian Cup squad which had to withdraw from the tournament due to a Covid-19 outbreak in the team, stressed the importance of having senior players in the group. ALSO READ: Indoor warmups: Brazil players slam CONMEBOL over Women's Copa America conditions 'Young players are important, but you can't discount what seniors bring. There were six or seven players in that team which beat Thailand, who were with us during the 2022 Asian Cup. This is the result of the effort that was put in back then. Yes, we want to encourage and support the youngsters, but when the time came, it was the likes of Sangita [Basfore], Manisha, Soumya, Sanju, Panthoi [Chanu] who performed. They became the core of the team. Youngsters should be able to compete and earn their spot; it shouldn't be handed out to them.' Aditi also hoped that the plan laid out by the All India Football Federation would be executed perfectly to aid the national team and prepare for competition that is 'definitely going to be tougher' in Australia. Retirement plans Much of Aditi's time post-retirement will be dedicated to running the She Kicks Football Academy, an initiative she founded in 2018 to strengthen women's football in the country from the grassroots level. 'We want to put a system in place, have the right ecosystem, and get people together to support the player. We also want to emphasise and bring in technology and science. I think these are important things that will play a huge role in our bigger objective,' she explained. Broadcasting also remains an avenue she would like to dabble in, but coaching seems to be something that's not on her cards just yet. 'I have done my coaching licenses – AFC C Diploma and Goalkeeping Level One. I'm keeping that option open as well. But let's see if it might be too soon to get back on the field again. That might take some time,' Aditi concluded.
The Print
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Print
India's trailblazing goalkeeper Aditi Chauhan announces retirement from football
'Thank you, football — for shaping me, testing me, and carrying me through. After 17 unforgettable years, I'm retiring from professional football with deep gratitude and pride,' Aditi wrote in a social media post on Thursday. The former India women's team goalkeeper, 32, now wants to work off the pitch and build a 'stronger pathway and ecosystem' for the next generation. New Delhi, Jul 17 (PTI) Exactly a decade after becoming the first Indian woman to play professional football in Europe, the trailblazing Aditi Chauhan has decided to announce her retirement from the game after a career spanning 17 years. 'This game gave me more than just a career; it gave me an identity. From chasing a dream in Delhi to carving out my own path all the way to the UK, where I pursued my Master's in Sports Management and played for West Ham United – I walked a road with no clear map. 'I never had to choose between education and passion. I fought hard to do both, and that balance has defined me,' she added. During a successful international career, Aditi, who caught everyone's attention after being signed up by West Ham United for the Women's Super League in England, donned the India jersey 57 times and, among others, was part of the senior teams that won the SAFF Women's Championship in 2012, 2016 and 2019. 'I gave everything to the game — my focus, my fire, my body — all in pursuit of that No. 1 jersey for India. But behind the highlights were the quiet battles: the fear of the unknown, the pressure to justify that my path was valid, and the persistent question from society – 'How would you possibly make a living playing football?' 'And then, the injuries. Coming back not once, but twice from ACL injuries, I believe I set an example for other players that one could overcome anything with mental courage. The pain, the doubt, the silence – it was a battle I had to win from within.' She spent two seasons with West Ham before returning to India in early 2018, before joining Gokulam Kerala FC for the 2019-20 Indian Women's League. At the domestic level, Aditi won the Indian Women's League (IWL) title with Gokulam Kerala FC in 2019-20 and 2021-22 besides reaching the semi-finals of the AFC Women's Club Championship and securing a third-place finish. 'What I'm most proud of as a professional athlete is the consistency. Across 17 years, I kept coming back — through setbacks, through injuries, through every doubt — and earned the No. 1 spot time and again.' 'My parents stood by me, picked me up when I needed, pushed me when I slacked a bit. Everything that I am, the things I've been able to achieve have been possible because of my mom, who's quietly just ridden this crazy ride with me and I can't thank god enough for giving her as my mom.' In her final season, she played a key role for the newly-promoted Sribhumi FC, helping the Kolkata-based side to a third-place finish in the IWL. As she steps away from the pitch, Aditi said she still has 'plenty left in the tank to give to the sport' that made her the person that she is today. 'As I now step into life beyond the pitch, I carry that belief with me – not as a player anymore, but as someone committed to building a stronger pathway and ecosystem for the next generation. 'My second half is about giving back to the game that gave me everything,' Aditi wrote. 'The formula remains the same: dream big, believe in yourself, and put in the work,' she signed off. PTI AH AM AH AM AM This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
