The only way to improve the level of Indian women’s football is by having a full fledged league, which runs throughout the year, feels national footballer Aditi Chauhan.
The 23-year-old goalkeeper believes the only way to get the best out of the national women’s team, is to engage them in the game as much as possible.
“We need to have a league, so that the girls are playing football throughout the year. It’s not just small tournaments, it needs to be for the entire year,” she said on the sidelines of ‘Turf 2015-16’.
“Even for the national team, it would be good if we train on regular basis and not just when a tournament comes up. It takes time for players to gel up, coordinate and the like. All of it is very important. I think basically it’s necessary for people to focus on women’s football now.”
Nonetheless, the important thing she reckons the country needs is to have proper exposure. “We need more friendlies and more competitions,” she opined.
Even though, Indian women’s team won the gold medal in the recently concluded South Asian Games, Aditi feels the nation should compete with higher level opponents. “The countries that participated in SAG were ranked very low as compared to India, so that is not a real competition and not the real test of our abilities,” she said.
“It is important for national team to play against countries that are similar or close to our ranks — that is what the real test will be. After that if we prove ourselves and get a positive result, then there will be a statement that we are doing well and women’s football is doing well and capable of achieving a lot more at international level.”
Not so long ago, Aditi’s dream of becoming the first Indian woman to play football in England with West Ham United came to an abrupt end due to visa issues. Since the 23-year-old Delhi girl was on a student visa she could not continue in the top two tiers of women’s football league.
While, recapping the incident, she said: “I was initially very disappointed because visa was something which was holding me back from achieving my dream. But, I am always optimistic and know that something positive will work out for me in near future.”
Aditi also added that she has not given up on playing for West Ham and also said she is trying to play for an even higher division club.
Meanwhile, Shiva Keshavan, first Indian representative to compete in luge, believes the players should be given more exposure to increase the popularity and achievements in the sport.
On the matter, he said: “Infrastructure is one very important aspect. It is not limited to that. Exposure is also very important.”