Shilji Shaji

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

Early life

Shilji hails from Kakkayam, Kozhikode, Kerala and started playing football at Kallanode School. 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".

Career

Gokulam Kerala

International career

She was called up to the India U17.
Shilji scored her first goal for India U17 team in a friendly match against on 6 February 2023, 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. Shilji scored a hat trick as India beat emphatically in the 2023 SAFF U-17 Women's Championship.
Shilji got to her fourth hat trick for the U-17 team against in the 2023 SAFF U-17 Women's Championship.
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.https://www.the-aiff.com/article/pv-priya-names-u1-7-womens-squad-for-u-17-afc-womens-asian-cup-qualifiers-in-bishkek

Honours

Individual
* Top Scorer :2023 SAFF U-17 Women's Championship

References

2007 births
Living people
People from Salem, Tamil Nadu
Footballers from Kerala
Sportswomen from Kerala
Indian women's footballers
India women's international footballers
India women's youth international footballers
Gokulam Kerala FC Women players
Women's association football forwards

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