GUWAHATI: There has been a significant surge of 138 percent in the registration of women football players in India over the past two years, marking a historic milestone for Indian football.
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This increase not only reflects the growing popularity of the sport but also signifies a rise in the number of young female athletes choosing football as their profession.
As per data from the All India Football Federation (AIFF) Central Registration System (CRS), the number of registered female footballers in India has reached 27,936 as of March 2024. This marks a substantial increase from the 11,724 female footballers registered in June 2022.
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The initiatives undertaken by the current management have played a vital role in creating a favorable environment for women footballers in the country.
“It’s a very positive trend we are witnessing in India,” said Kalyan Chaubey. “To have as many as 16,212 new female players in our football ecosystem is an encouraging sign that we are on the right track in our planning for women’s football in India.”
Chaubey attributed the increase to a slew of measures including course correction that was brought in for the Indian Women’s League (IWL) in the current season of 2023-24, in addition to the subsequent introduction of a second division competition IWL-2. “Availability of live broadcast has indeed helped in enhancing the profile of the sport,” he added.
The 2022-23 season of IWL was played at a single venue in Ahmedabad among 16 teams, with Gokulam Kerala FC winning their third consecutive title. This season (2023-24) the format was changed to ‘home-and-away’, which was a big success, appreciated by the clubs, players, and fans. Odisha FC emerged victorious ending GKFC’s 3-year-long dominance and will represent India in the AFC continental competition.
The inaugural IWL-2 saw the participation of 15 clubs at the group stage, six of which have qualified for the final round scheduled next month in Kolkata.
India today also boosts of 24 active State Leagues for women’s football, which acts as the 3rd tier of the pyramid and has helped the national federation populate the sport among masses.
“These are baby steps we have taken in the last 16-18 months, having a focused approach on women’s football. The current season is a breakaway year for Indian football in many ways. We are noticing a rapid growth in the women’s football in India. Players and clubs are getting more game time due to increase in number of matches in domestic circuit, making it increasingly competitive. Opportunity to play the AFC organised continental championship – AFC Women’s Cup - is a big motivator for India clubs today,” said Kalyan Chaubey, added.
