Wikipedia

Shilji Shaji

Shilji Shaji (born 13 March 2007) is an Indian women's international footballer who plays for Gokulam Kerala and the India U17.[2] She won the 2022–23 AIFF Emerging Player of the Year award.[3]

Shilji Shaji
Personal information
Date of birth (2007-03-13) 13 March 2007 (age 19)
Place of birth Kakkayam,Kozhikode, Kerala, India
Height 1.53 m (5 ft 0 in)[1]
Position Forward
Team information
Current team
 Gokulam Kerala
Number 20
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022– Gokulam Kerala 14 (2)
International career
2023 India U17 6 (16)
2025– India U20 3 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 18 May 2026

Early life

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Shilji hails from Kakkayam, Kozhikode, Kerala and started playing football at Kallanode School.[4] 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".[5]

Career

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Gokulam Kerala

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Shilji progressed through the girls' academy at Gokulam . She made her senior debut during the 2025–26 Indian Women's League season aged 18, was introduced as a substitute against Nita on 20 December 2025.

International career

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She was called up to the India U17.[6][7][8] Shilji scored her first goal for India U17 team in a friendly match against Jordan on 6 February 2023,[9] 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.[10] Shilji scored a hat trick as India beat Nepal emphatically in the 2023 SAFF U-17 Women's Championship.[11] Shilji got to her fourth hat trick for the U-17 team against Bhutan in the 2023 SAFF U-17 Women's Championship.[12] 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 was diagnosed with viral pneumonia.[13]

Honours

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Individual

References

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  1. ↑ "2026 AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup Squad Lists" (PDF). Asian Football Confederation. Retrieved 31 March 2026.
  2. ↑ "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.
  3. ↑ "Indian Football News: Chhangte and Manisha Kalyan win the AIFF Player Of the Year award". sportzpoint.com. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  4. ↑ "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.
  5. ↑ "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.
  6. ↑ "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.
  7. ↑ "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.
  8. ↑ "AFC U17 Women's Asia Cup: Indian squad named for qualifiers". 19 April 2023.
  9. ↑ "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.
  10. ↑ "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.
  11. ↑ "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.
  12. ↑ "SAFF U17 Womens' Championship: India vs Bhutan report". Khel Now. 26 March 2023. Archived from the original on 26 March 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  13. ↑ "PV Priya names U-17 Women's squad for U-17 AFC Women's Asian Cup Qualifiers in Bishkek".


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