Shilji Shaji

In this Indian name, the name Shaji is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Shilji.

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

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]

Early life

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

Gokulam Kerala

International career

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

Individual

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

References

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".