Sunil Chhetri is my idol in football, says Sanju Yadav of Gokulam Kerala FC

The 21-year-old is one of the brightest prospects in the Indian women's game.

Sanju Yadav is fast becoming a well-known figure in the context of Indian women’s football discourse. The former Rising Student’s Club player recently took part in the Indian Women’s League, playing for Gokulam Kerala FC. She is a versatile attacker, who can put in a shift as both an attacking midfielder and a forward and has bagged 20 goals from 23 appearances overall in the three seasons she has played in the IWL.

With her talents, she is becoming an important part of the national side as well, having scored 11 goals in 28 appearances since her senior team debut back in 2016. At 21-years-old, she has developed an incredible sense of hunger for goals and is one of the first names on the team-sheet and is highly-regarded by national team tactician, Maymol Rocky.

In a media interaction in New Delhi on Friday, the 2016 Emerging Player of the Year from Haryana spoke about her experience in the IWL and gave her thoughts on the upcoming U-17 FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2020 and more. Here are the excerpts:

Q1: What are your thoughts regarding the U-17 Women’s World Cup that is being hosted by India in 2020?

A- I wish our team plays well and performs well. I would like to give them my best wishes for the tournament.

Q2: The Indian Women’s League has been a great success. What are your thoughts regarding the league and how it has functioned? Moreover, would you like to suggest any structural changes to the league?

A- The federation has given us (women players) a great platform in the name of IWL. This year’s competition was a huge success and hopefully next year’s tournament is even better. As far as changes are concerned, the league should be a bit longer in duration.

Q3: Where do you see yourself in the next five years?

A- I would just like to see myself continuing to play for the national side. For five years or more, I hope to keep contributing to the Indian team.

Q4: What are your thoughts on figures like Maymol Rocky and how do they influence the game? Also, who do you see as an idol in football?

A- Maymol Rocky ma’am has done a lot for us. She is a brilliant coach who has worked really hard on the players. Secondly, Sunil Chhetri is my idol in football.

Q5: Would you like to share any incident that pushed you to work harder as a player and brought about a positive change in you?

A- My injury in 2017 made me stronger, physically and mentally. Moreover, the villagers used to make negative comments in the beginning, doubting me because of me being a female footballer. However, now they have started showing their support which is a nice change.

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Q6: Lastly, what would you like to say to the players, other girls, back in your village in Haryana?

A- I would like to wish them all the very best in whichever field of sports they enter in. I hope they take my example and achieve great things for themselves. I would also like to support the emerging talents from my village and hope they can make it like I was able to.