Achievement of Women Football in India- A Review

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was threefold i.e., to investigate and document the history of women's football in India, tracing its evolution, milestones, and key developments over the years, to contextualize the study within the broader landscape of women's football in India, examining the challenges, successes, and unique aspects of the sport in the country and to analyze the achievements of women's football, including the accomplishments of individual footballers, and assess their impact on the sport's growth and recognition in India. By addressing these objectives, the study aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the history and status of women's football in India, shedding light on its past, present, and the contributions of players to the sport's development. This research can be valuable in promoting awareness and facilitating further advancements in women's football within the Indian context. The Indian women's national football team is under the control of the All-India Football Federation and represents India in women's international football competitions. After a nearly year-long hiatus, the women's team resumed playing on 7 September 2012. The team operates under the global jurisdiction of FIFA and is governed in Asia by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). Additionally, the team is a member of the South Asian Football Federation. During the mid-70s to early 80s, the Indian women's national team was among the best teams in Asia. They achieved notable success by becoming runners-up in the 1979 and 1983 AFC Women's Asian Cup. These achievements highlighted their competitiveness and skill on the Asian football stage. In more recent times, the Indian team achieved a significant milestone by winning its first gold medal in the 2010 South Asian Games held in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Players like Bembem Devi and Ansha were standout performers during this period, contributing to the team's success. This history underscores the rich legacy of women's football in India and the potential for future growth and success on both the Asian and international stages. The Indian women's national football team continues to inspire and pave the way for future generations of female footballers in the country. To find out the data and various information Researcher reviewed different websites, Google, Wikipedia, Newspaper, Sports magazines, Books, etc. Initially, the author went through literature related to women's sports. Further, he shortened his area of focus and restricted it to the area of Women's football in the Olympics and other sports. He went through all sorts of information available in the form of secondary sources like books, journals, articles, magazines, newspapers, the internet, etc., and accumulated all important data relevant to the topic and presented in the thesis. In conclusion, while progress has been made in the realm of women's football, there is still much work to be done to ensure that female athletes receive the same rights, recognition, and opportunities as their male counterparts. It is imperative that stakeholders in the football world and society at large continue to push for greater gender equality in sports, fostering an environment where female football players can thrive both on the field and in their social lives..