Sanju Yadav’s Personal Details
Name: Sanju Yadav
Position: Forward
Date of Birth: 12 September 1997
Hometown: Alakhpura, Haryana, India
Sanju Yadav is a standout forward in Indian women’s football, known for her speed, goal-scoring instincts and ability to trouble defenders at all levels of the game. From humble beginnings in a small Haryana village, she rose through determination and performance to become one of the most recognisable forwards in the Indian Women’s League (IWL) and the India women’s national team.
Born in Alakhpura, Haryana, Sanju’s football journey began at the age of 10, when she took up the sport to earn scholarships and support her family. Trained primarily with local players and later alongside India’s national squad, her early exposure to competitive football helped shape her attacking instincts.
Sanju grew up watching the greatest Indian footballers and has cited Sunil Chhetri as a key inspiration, admiring his dedication and influence on Indian football’s growth.
Sanju made a remarkable impact in the 2016 Indian Women’s League (IWL) preliminary round, scoring 11 goals, including a hat-trick against Bodyline, helping Alakhpura FC qualify for the IWL final stages as top-scorer. Her form in the early seasons earned her the AIFF Women’s Emerging Player of the Year award in 2016, a testament to her breakout impact at just 19 years old.
She then moved to Rising Student’s Club for the 2017-18 IWL where she continued to score consistently, helping drive their successful league campaign. In later seasons, Sanju played for prominent IWL clubs including Gokulam Kerala FC, Sethu FC, Odisha FC and Kickstart FC before joining Sribhumi. Sanju’s blend of pace, movement and finishing ability has made her a key attacking figure for every club she’s represented in India’s top women’s league.
Sanju’s international journey began in 2016 when she was selected for the India squad at the South Asian Games. She made a spectacular senior debut, scoring her first international goal against Bangladesh in a 5-1 victory. Later that year, she also scored in the SAFF Women’s Championship, contributing to India’s regional dominance.
Over the years, she has been a consistent presence in India’s attack, featuring in major tournaments and friendlies. As of 4 March 2026, Sanju has earned 63 caps for India and scored 11 goals; a notable scoring record for an attacking player on the international stage.
Her goal contributions include key strikes in the Olympic Qualifiers, SAFF Championships, and friendly matches across Asia, reflecting her reliability in front of goal.
Honours & Achievements:
International
SAFF Women’s Championship: 2016, 2019 (India)
South Asian Games Gold Medal: 2016 (India)
Domestic
Indian Women’s League: 2017-18 (Rising Student’s Club)
Indian Women’s League: 2023-24 (Odisha FC)
Individual
AIFF Women’s Emerging Player of the Year: 2016
