Rupnarayanpur, West Bengal (12 July, 2024)

Transcript:

Namasrakar, I am Adrija Sarkhel. I play football for the Indian Team. I have played the under-15, 17, 19 and 20 categories. I was n athlete in the beginning. Since class 5 I had an interest in football as my father, brother, uncle all used to play. So I had an interest in playing football and wanted to do something big in this field. I thus started playing from the 5th standard and played under-17 for the team in Manipur and then played under-19. In 2019 I got chance in team India from Kolhapur. I was born in Chittaranjan, a small township, approximately 250 kilometres away from Kolkata. In this small town I first used to play for Malbal club. There I used to play under Sanjib sir and then later he guided me to play under-17 representing West Bengal in Manipur. We went to play there under the supervision of Sujata Ma’am. Slowly I started playing for team Shreebhumi. I went to play in Kolhapur in 2019 from where I a got a chance in Team India. I have played under-15 SAFF cup and was in the under-17 World Cup team also. But due to the delay for COVID, our age increased and we could not play. My position is that of a Goalkeeper. One of my memorable matches is when I played State Championship. For my outstanding performance I was named “Uronto Baajpakhi” (Flying Hawk). I played the Karnataka League, where I was very satisfied with my performance and I got the best goalkeeper title there. When I played the under-15 SAFF cup, I performed quite well. In the tie breaker of the final match the team won because of one of my saves. I have played both in India and abroad. In my own country I first played in Manipur. Then it was Kolhapur. I also played in Bhutan, Bangladesh, Turkey. In Turkey I went to play a friendly match before the World Cup. In 2023 I played Kanyashree Cup for Shreebhumi club where we became the champions. I faced a blow when I could not play under-17 World Cup. But that did not stop me. I am still continuing my game and I am preparing myself to do better and play bigger matches. I now practise alone and currently do not have a coach. I have a friend with whom I practise. When I get calls from the camps, I go and join them. The facilities now are much better than it used to be. Still, I think our food should be more nutritious and our mode of transport should improve. I now am playing IWL for Shreebhumi football club. During our IWL we travel in air. People thought that there is a difference between male and female players, but that has become quite obsolete now. Both male and female players get similar facilities. So I wish for an increase in payment of a female player, just like that of a male. My idol is Aditi Chauhan. I follow Aditi di a lot. Aditi di shares a lot of her stories with me and supports me in many ways. If I speak of international men’s goalkeepers, then my idol is Martinez. In the moth of February this year, I had an ACL injury for which I was unable to play two of the IWL matches. I got a little disheartened but I am doing rehab in order to make a comeback. I am already fit now and I am ready for my upcoming matches.