According to the All-India Football Federation (AIFF) Central Registration System (CRS) data, India has 27,936 registered female footballers as of March 2024. This is a massive 138 % rise in the number of female footballers in the last 21 months on the 11,724 players registered in June 2022.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The AIFF claims that the policies undertaken by the current management have helped create a conducive environment for women\u2019s footballers in the country. \u201cIt\u2019s a very positive trend we are witnessing in India,\u201d said AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey. \u201cTo have as many as 16,212 new female players in our football ecosystem is an encouraging sign that we are on the right track in our planning for women\u2019s football in India.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Chaubey attributed the increase to a slew of measures including course correction that was brought in for the Indian Women\u2019s League (IWL) in the current season of 2023-24, in addition to the subsequent introduction of a second division competition IWL-2. \u201cAvailability of live broadcast has indeed helped in enhancing the profile of the sport,\u201d he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The 2022-23 season of IWL was played among 16 teams at a single venue in Ahmedabad, with Gokulam Kerala FC winning their third consecutive title.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
This season (2023-24) the format was changed to \u2018home-and-away\u2019, which was a big success, appreciated by the clubs, players and fans. Odisha FC emerged victorious ending GKFC\u2019s 3-year-long dominance and will represent India in the AFC continental competition. The inaugural IWL-2 saw the participation of 15 clubs at the group stage, six of which have qualified for the final round scheduled next month in Kolkata, the IAFF release said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
India now boasts of 24 active State Leagues for women\u2019s football, which acts as the 3rd tier of the pyramid and has helped the national federation populate the sport among the masses.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThese are baby steps we have taken in the last 16-18 months, having a focused approach on women\u2019s football. The current season is a breakaway year for Indian football in many ways.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWe are noticing a rapid growth in the women\u2019s football in India. Players and clubs are getting more game time due to the increase in the number of matches in the domestic circuit, making it increasingly competitive. Opportunity to play the AFC organised continental championship \u2013 AFC Women\u2019s Cup - is a big motivator for Indian clubs today,\u201d said Kalyan Chaubey, adding that, \u201cwomen\u2019s football will have a priority focus in the coming years,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n", "image": "https:\/\/img.cricketnmore.com\/uploads\/2024\/04\/with-iwl-2-home-and-away-league-in-place-aiff-records-historic-rise-in-womens-footballers.JPG", "alt_img": "With IWL-2, home-and-away league in place, AIFF records historic rise in women\u2019s footballers", "alt_title": "With IWL-2, home-and-away league in place, AIFF records historic rise in women\u2019s footballers", "image1": null, "video": null, "seo_title": "With IWL-2, Home-and-away League In Place, AIFF Records Historic Rise In Women\u2019s Footballers On Cricketnmore", "seo_desc": "With IWL-2, Home-and-away League In Place, AIFF Records Historic Rise In Women\u2019s Footballers, AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey: With a full domestic calendar in place, Indian football has recorded a historic 138 percent surge.", "seo_keywords": "With IWL, New Delhi, India Football Federation, Central Registration System, The AIFF, AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey, Indian Women, Gokulam Kerala FC, Odisha FC, State Leagues, AFC Women, Kalyan Chaubey", "tag": "", "tagging": "With IWL, New Delhi, India Football Federation, Central Registration System, The AIFF, AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey, Indian Women, Gokulam Kerala FC, Odisha FC, State Leagues, AFC Women, Kalyan Chaubey", "status": "1", "img_rpt": "0", "google": "1", "standout": "0", "edapps": "0", "pulse": "0", "no_index": "0", "feed": "0", "fixture": null, "slug": "with-iwl-2-home-and-away-league-in-place-aiff-records-historic-rise-in-womens-footballers", "user_id": "0", "read_count": "0", "ians_date": null, "ians_time": null, "server_time": null, "trash": "0", "view_count": "680", "page_break": "0", "instant_articles": "1", "auto_link": "0", "created": "2024-04-25 17:32:03", "updated": "2024-04-25 17:32:03", "img_from": "Image Source: IANS", "img_source": null, "schedule_publish": null, "news_keywords": "With IWL, New Delhi, India Football Federation, Central Registration System, The AIFF, AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey, Indian Women, Gokulam Kerala FC, Odisha FC, State Leagues, AFC Women, Kalyan Chaubey", "livescore_text": null, "livescore_link": null, "btn_text": null, "resend_feed": "1", "google_feed": "1", "read_more": "0", "posted_by": "23", "jio_date": "2024-04-25 17:32:03", "scheduled": "0", "news_now": "0", "breaking_news": "0", "google_date": null, "featured": "0", "sports_name": "football", "cnmid": "895535", "link": "https:\/\/www.cricketnmore.com\/sports-news\/with-iwl-2-home-and-away-league-in-place-aiff-records-historic-rise-in-womens-footballers-14767" }