Imphal, March 31: In a significant milestone for Indian’s sports history, Elangbam Panthoi Chanu has become the first player from Indian to play for Australian Football League.
The talented Chanu has signed with Metro United WFC for South Australian Women’s National Premier League, kicks-off her stunt on Thursday March 28, 2024 marking a ground breaking achievement not only for Chanu but also for Manipur’s football fraternity.
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The 28-years-old, current Goal Keeper of Indian Women National Team, Elangbam Panthoi Chanu who currently plays for Eastern Sporting Union hails from Kairak, a small village from Kakching District, Manipur signed her contract with the second tire National Premier Leagues Women’s Club Metro United WFC on March 26, 2024. Chanu will represent the team until the conclusion of the season in September 2024.
Bala Devi the “Pride of Indian football” named by Kiren Rijiju was the first Woman from India to play for Scottish Women’s Premier league for Club Ranger FC.
Chanu has now become another player to set the record to play for Australian Football League, the success attributes to the recent trials attended by head coaches from prominent team named WFC Dinamo Zagreb, Western United FC Melbourne, Marbella FC. Their recommendations made a breaking ground for Chanu’s international career.
Panthoi Chanu’s numerous titles of success, Emergency Players of the Year 2017, consecutively winning Best Goal Keeper of the Year at India Women‘s League 16-17 and 18-19 for two seasons and Manipur football of the year 2018 paved her football career at the heights of international arena.
As Chanu embarks on this new chapter of her career, she carries with her the hopes and aspirations of her fellow Manipuris, who will be eagerly following her journey and cheering her on as Chanu represents both her home state and the nation on the international football stage.
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