Shilji Shaji (born 13 March 2007) is an Indian women's international footballer who plays for Gokulam Kerala and the India U17.[1] She won the 2022–23 AIFF Emerging Player of the Year award.[2]

Shilji Shaji
Personal information
Date of birth (2007-03-13) 13 March 2007 (age 17)
Place of birth Kakkayam,Kozhikode, Kerala, India
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
Gokulam Kerala
Number 49
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022– Gokulam Kerala
International career
2023– India U17 6 (16)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Early life

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Shilji hails from Kakkayam, Kozhikode, Kerala and started playing football at Kallanode School.[3] She said, "My father played football, and he sent me to play as well. Very few girls of my age used to play football. So I mostly played with senior girls".[4]

Career

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Gokulam Kerala

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International career

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She was called up to the India U17.[5][6][7] Shilji scored her first goal for India U17 team in a friendly match against Jordan   on 6 February 2023,[8] ultimately scoring four goals in this game. Shilji also scored another four goals in the next match against the same opponent on 9 February 2023.[9] Shilji scored a hat trick as India beat Nepal     emphatically in the 2023 SAFF U-17 Women's Championship.[10] Shilji got to her fourth hat trick for the U-17 team against   Bhutan in the 2023 SAFF U-17 Women's Championship.[11] She was called for 2024 AFC U-17 Women's Asian Cup qualification Team, Later AIFF announced Nishima Kumari of Jharkhand as replacement for attacking midfielder Shilji Shaji, Who diagnosed with viral pneumonia.[12]

Honours

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Individual

References

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  1. ^ "PV Priya announces 20-member squad for SAFF U-17 Women's Championship to be held in Dhaka". AIFF. 16 March 2023. Archived from the original on 17 March 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  2. ^ "Indian Football News: Chhangte and Manisha Kalyan win the AIFF Player Of the Year award". sportzpoint.com. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  3. ^ "Shilji Shaji wants to build on a bright start for the Indian U-17 Women's Team". khelnow.com. Archived from the original on 25 March 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  4. ^ "Shilji Shaji sets a high standard for the Indian U-17 Women's Team". footballexpress.in. 24 March 2023. Archived from the original on 28 March 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  5. ^ "Interview with India U-17 Women's Shilji Shaji!". arunfoot.com. 22 March 2023. Archived from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  6. ^ "സാഫ് ഫുട്ബോൾ: ഇന്ത്യൻ ടീമിൽ ഇടം നേടി ഷിൽജിയും അഖിലയും, ആദ്യ മത്സരം നേപ്പാളിനെതിരെ". manoramaonline.com. Archived from the original on 28 March 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  7. ^ "AFC U17 Women's Asia Cup: Indian squad named for qualifiers". 19 April 2023.
  8. ^ "India U-17 women outplay hosts Jordan in friendly match - View19". 6 February 2023. Archived from the original on 20 March 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  9. ^ "Football: Shilji Shaji nets four as India U-17 women's team hammers Jordan 6-0". The Statesman. 10 February 2023. Archived from the original on 20 March 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  10. ^ "Shilji Shaji strikes hat-trick as India down Nepal in SAFF U-17 Women's Championship opener". 20 March 2023. Archived from the original on 20 March 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  11. ^ "SAFF U17 Womens' Championship: India vs Bhutan report". Archived from the original on 26 March 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  12. ^ "PV Priya names U-17 Women's squad for U-17 AFC Women's Asian Cup Qualifiers in Bishkek".