SAFF Women's Championship: India's unsung hero, Ranjana Chanu labels her contribution as a 'proud achievement'

The attacking fullback played her part in assisting both goals for Dangmei Grace in the game against Pakistan.

When India‘s Dangmei Grace scored the first goal against Pakistan in the 2024 SAFF Women’s Championship, everyone cheered and clapped for her. The same happened when Grace netted the second goal. However, the spotlight largely missed the player who assisted both goals, Sorokhaibam Ranjana Chanu.

“It felt amazing to contribute to both goals in the first half that led to Grace‘s scores. Assisting my team in such crucial matches is a proud achievement for me.

“The first assist came from a build-up by Panthoi (Chanu), followed by Manisha’s cut in the middle and my overlapping run, which our coach had taught us in training. The overlap led to the assist, and Grace finished with a goal,” Ranjana told the All India Football Federation (AIFF).

Hailing from Manipur, Ranjana Chanu started her football journey at the age of 16 in her village academy. Her father is a rickshaw puller by profession, and her mother is a housewife. Ranjana is employed with the Assam Rifles and has four sisters and one brother, who is also a footballer. Aside from her dream of playing abroad, she is the sole breadwinner for her family after her father suffered a brain stroke three years ago.

“I started playing football in 2009 at my village academy. I continued to play there until 2011-12, before getting selected in Kryphsa FC. After joining Kryphsa, I got an opportunity to participate in a girls’ football tournament hosted by the Assam Rifles.

“At that time, not many believed that girls played football. I gave my best during the trials and was selected, making my parents extremely happy. It was my first big chance in life, and I took it. The excitement of getting a job, which allowed me to help my family, including my siblings, was such a nice feeling, said Ranjana.

“I competed in age-group tournaments in 2012 and played for the national U19 team in 2015. Although I received a senior national team call-up in 2018, I wasn’t selected until 2019. Since then, I have been with the national team. I suffered a knee injury during the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2022, which kept me out of action,” she mentioned.

“When I returned home to start my treatment, my father suffered a brain stroke and became paralysed. At that moment, I thought about quitting football. However, my mother encouraged me to keep going for the sake of my passion and dreams. Whatever money I had, I gave to my brother so he could train at the TATA Football Academy,” Chanu said.

After undergoing treatment for both her father’s condition and her own injury, Ranjana Chanu has secured a regular spot in the starting eleven. She has played 36 matches for India, scoring three goals, and is currently competing in her third SAFF Women’s Championship in Nepal.

“Breaking into the starting XI is about proving how far I can push myself. I also have dreams to play abroad someday but before that, I want to make my family happy and want my father to be fit and watch me play,” the defender smiled.

Ranjana Chanu idolizes Ashalata Devi who just played her 100th international game against Pakistan and said, “Asha Di has been a tremendous mentor. She’s an incredible person who teaches with patience and never lets anyone feel discouraged.

“The exposure and game time have significantly increased in women’s football, allowing us to compete against higher-ranked teams and gain experience. The growth of Indian football is evident, with the Indian Women’s League (IWL) now being a platform for players, not just from the national and senior levels, but also from the league itself, to get selected for the Indian team,” she said.

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