Manipur footballer Elangbam Panthoi Chanu becomes 1st Indian to play in Australian Football League

Indian footballer  Elangbam Panthoi Chanu , hailing from Keirak, a small village in the Kakching district of Manipur have become the first woman footballer to set a record by playing in the Australian Football League.  She signed a contract with the second tier National Premier Leagues Women’s club Metro United WFC in the South Australian league.

Footballer Panthoi represents Metro United WFC in the South Australia Women’s National Premier League that began on Thursday. She will don the gloves until the conclusion of the season in September 2024.

Taking to X, Metro United WFC wrote “ As first reported late last night by @pfaindia and @womeninsportsindia, MUWFC are thrilled to announce the signing of the Indian National Team Goalkeeper, Elangbam Panthoi Chanu!”

Born on February 1 1996, Panthoi started her career at the Women Football Academy Kakching before moving to Eastern Sporting Union in 2012. She represented Eastern Sporting Union and Manipur Police in the Indian Women’s League and the regional Manipur Women’s League. She played the U13 national team in 2008, later demonstrated her remarkable potential and dedication in the U14, U16, and U19 national teams. Her commitment and prowess on the field led to her Senior National team debut in the year 2014. She became the best goalkeeper in the second edition of the Indian Women’s League in 2017-18 representing Eastern Sporting Union. Now footballer.

Panthoi’s journey has been full of ups and downs. “Over the years, Panthoi has played a crucial role in representing India in numerous international football events, including but not limited to international friendlies, Asian Cup Games, Olympic Qualifiers, and various other tournaments.” wrote  Metro United WFC  on X .

Panthoi’s route to success was paved at the ‘Women in Sports Elite Football Trials, second edition,’ when she stood out among 27 competitors. The trials, organized by Women in Sports, the AMPL Foundation, and the Football Players’ Association of India, sought to create opportunities for female footballers to demonstrate their talent on a global scale.  Panthoi’s  success marks a significant milestone for Indian footballers aspiring to play abroad.