Indian Women’s Football Hits New Heights: Aditi Chauhan Shares Her Joy and Dreams
Bengaluru’s former star goalkeeper Aditi Chauhan couldn’t hide her excitement when she talked about the Indian women’s senior national team’s big win. They just qualified for the AFC Asia Cup 2026 in Australia, and it’s a historic moment! For the first time, the Women in Blue earned their spot through the qualifiers, not just by automatic entry. Their last time at the tournament was back in 2003. On top of that, the India U20 women’s team also made it to the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup after a 20-year gap. Women’s football in India is on fire!
In a chat with , Aditi opened up about how far women’s football has come in India. She shared her hope that the team could soon qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup – and maybe even beat the men’s team to it. "India just made history by qualifying for the Asia Cup on merit. The U17 girls won the SAFF Championship, and the U20 team is heading to the Asia Cup too," she said with a big smile. "We’ve been saying for years that the women’s team will reach the FIFA World Cup first, and now it feels like our dreams are coming true."
Aditi believes a strong showing at the Asia Cup or the World Cup could give women’s football the boost it needs in India. "If we perform well, it’ll unlock so much potential in our country," she added. She also wants more people to join the conversation – sharing stories like hers could inspire everyone to push women’s football forward.
After a 17-year career full of ups and downs, Aditi retired earlier this year. She faced plenty of challenges as one of the pioneers in Indian women’s football, but those experiences shaped her. "There were more lows than highs, and building a career wasn’t easy," she reflected. "As a goalkeeper, I learned to control what I can and move on. I’ve used those lessons in my everyday life – it’s all about staying positive and thinking ahead."
What makes Aditi’s story even cooler? She’s the first Indian women’s footballer to play in a European league. While pursuing a master’s in sports management at Loughborough University in 2014, she tried out for teams in London during an internship. That’s how she landed a spot with West Ham United. "My journey was tough, but I knew I wanted a future in sports," she said. "Going abroad while being on the senior team was a big step, but it paid off."
Now, Aditi is giving back through her Aditi Chauhan Foundation. She started the ‘She Kicks Football League’ to share her knowledge from the field and her studies. "She Kicks is my legacy," she explained. "We’ve launched an academy too, and our goal is to create real opportunities for women in football." She’s calling on sponsors and supporters to help expand to smaller cities in Tier 2 and Tier 3 areas. If you’re passionate about women’s sports in India, this is your chance to get involved and help grow the game!
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