Indian Women’s team Goal Keeper Aditi Chauhan says ‘Parents should support young girls pursuing sports’

In an online conversation on Indian Football Team page on Instagram Aditi Chauhan talked about football and her personal experiences. The AIFF started an initiative to organise webinars with top-notch Indian sports personalities since the lockdown.

Aditi Chauhan who plays as a goalkeeper for Gokulam Kerala FC and the Indian national team talked to AIFF journalist on instagram live. She has previously played for English club West Ham United Ladies.

In the interview Chauhan told about her family when she moved to Delhi when she was nine years old. As a child she was very involved in various sports. She participated in karate. Her whole family been involved in sports. Her elder brother took Taekwondo classes when Aditi was 5 years old. She talks about how she used to shadow her brother’s taekwondo moves.

Aditi also played district basketball when she was in school. “This was the reason I went on to become a Goal-Keeper for Indian Women’s Team” – Aditi said.

Aditi was asked about the change she saw after the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup on Indian society. Chauhan says ‘not so overwhelming change been seen but there’s a constant progress within the football management and the group’. The Indian team is diverse than ever and has been playing very good amount of football recently.

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“There has been more media coverage, more stakeholders and more professionals ever since” – The Indian Goal Keeper said.

“I get a lot of DM’s from young girls asking – I am 16 years old, I want to become a footballer, how should I do it? And the parents aren’t supporting what to do? Which is sad to see” – Chauhan added.

“Parents should support young girls pursuing sports” – Aditi answering to all the young girls.

Aditi is outspoken about the way she feels about things. Though the things might be improving for Indian football but there’s still a lot of room to improve and a change is needed regarding Indian parents mindsets towards young girls playing football.

The 27-year old is optimistic about Women’s football in India after the 2021 U-17 World Cup takes place in India. The tournament is held in even-numbered years, starting in 2008. The current champion is Spain, which won its first title at the 2018 tournament in Uruguay. Aditi Chauhan idolizes Bayern Munich’s Manuel Neuer, Carlie Llyod who recently won the 2019 Women’s World Cup with USA and the Spanish Tennis star, Rafael Nadal.

Aditi says with the new head coach Thomas Dennerby, Indian would perform better at the U-17 FIFA Women’s World Cup. “The U-17 Indian team would aid the upcoming 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup” – The 27-year old said.

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