Priyadharshini Selladurai: From paddy fields of Thiruvarur to international football
Chiang Mai, Thailand June 28 (UNI) 'Raw talent' is how coach Crispin Chettri defines Priyadharshini Selladurai, the Indian women's national team's newest goalscorer. Priyadharshini scored two goals for 'Team India' in their 13-0 win over Mongolia on June 23, 2025, these were her first two goals in internatoinal football.
As a loose ball landed right in front of her feet just inside the box, the 22-year-old midfielder's eyes lit up. She took a careful touch with her side-foot and laced it into the bottom corner to score India's 11th against Mongolia, but her first ever for the country. Priyadharshini added another goal later, as she tapped in Pyari Xaxa's cutback to take India's tally to 13, marking the Blue Tigresses' biggest win in AFC competitions.
Two goals in three matches for the country, yet she hasn't yet made a first XI appearance in the Indian Women's League. That's not a statement you hear every day. But her hard work in training and performances in games have made Chettri fully agree with his decision to give her a first national team call-up.
"Priyadharshini is one of our raw talents. I say that because she hasn't gotten many minutes in the IWL. But we still believed in her talent and gave her the opportunity to be part of our national team camp. And she's doing well here. However, playing in the IWL will help her a lot to mature as a player. I think we will have a very good number 10 in her, in the future," said Chettri.
Priyadharshini has been part of Chettri's squad since he first took charge ahead of the Pink Ladies Cup in February. However, she made her debut in May, in the first friendly against Uzbekistan in Bengaluru. And just 24 days later came the first goal.
"For a long time, I had been wondering if I would ever get selected for the Indian team. Now that I've been selected and scored a goal, I'm truly happy. I can't even express how I felt inside. I don't have the words to describe it. It was like a dream come true to score for the country," Priyadharshini shared.
The dream grew gradually. From playing in the paddy fields of her small village of Savalakkaran in the Thiruvarur district of Tamil Nadu, to scoring goals for India in Chiang Mai, also a city known for paddy production, the journey, as is the case with most female footballers in India, wasn't easy.
"I started playing football when I was in sixth class. I saw my seniors playing in the school, and decided to join them. I was selected for the Tamil Nadu team for the National School Games in Manipur in 2016, which was the first time I played outside my state," said the midfielder.
That became the turning point in her life. Football could be taken seriously. She liked it, and she was getting good at it. But it took time for her parents to approve of her new passion.
"I come from a place where girls aren't encouraged to pursue sports. This was like breaking a barrier for me."
But Priyadharshini had the support of her school's physical education teacher, V Muthukumar, who actively went from door to door and convinced the parents of the village to allow their girls to play football.
"We didn't have a proper football ground, so we played on paddy fields. My coach helped us a lot. He arranged the playing equipment and even gave me my first pair of football boots. Even today, when I go back, I train in the same paddy field," she said.
What earned Priyadharshini her place in the national team were impressive performances for Tamil Nadu in the Rajmata Jijabai Trophy for the Senior Women's National Football Championship and the National Games. Before her international cap, the biggest highlight of her career remained the goal in the 2023 Senior Women's NFC final in Punjab, which won Tamil Nadu only their second-ever title.
Playing alongside her idol Indumathi Kathiresan, she went on to represent her state in the 2024 and 2025 Rajmata Jijabai Trophy and the National Games in Gujarat 2024 and Uttarakhand 2025. At the club level, she signed for Gokulam Kerala FC in 2023-24 and made five appearances off the bench in the IWL that season. But Priyadharshini took the Kerala Women's League by storm, scoring 24 goals in the Malabarians' title win and ending up as the league's top scorer.
Success with Tamil Nadu earned her a job as a block health officer at the government hospital in Alangudi, a town situated half an hour from her home.
"As I was appointed under the sports quota, I get paid leave when I'm on national duty, like right now. For people back home, it's a matter of pride that I've become the first one to play for India from my village," said Priyadharshini.
India will play Timor Leste (June 29 at 14:30 IST), Iraq (July 2 at 14:30 IST), and Thailand (July 5 at 18:00 IST) in the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers. All matches will be streamed live on Changsuek YouTube Channel and Thai Women's Football Facebook Page.
UNI RKM
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Gazette
31 minutes ago
- India Gazette
'No pressure, only enthusiasm': Varun Tomar is excited for Shooting League of India
New Delhi [India], June 28 (ANI): Varun Tomar, a prominent Indian shooter who won a gold medal at the 2022 ISSF World Cup in Cairo, is poised to be one of the flagship players in the tournament and has expressed his excitement for the inaugural edition of the Shooting League of India (SLI). The first edition of the SLI is all set to kick off this year in Delhi. Aiming to help push shooting as a sport further into the Indian and global mainstream and provide increased exposure to the shooters, the buzz surrounding the tournament is starting to spread among the athletes, with more than 400 athletes from within India, and around the world having registered to partake in the inaugural edition of the tournament. Considered one of the best young shooters in the country, he is most prominently known for his role in helping secure India a quota in the 2024 Paris Olympics by winning a gold medal in the 10m air pistol event at the Asian Olympics Qualifiers in Jakarta. The shooter praised the increased exposure the Shooting League of India would bring to shooters and said as quoted from a press release by SLI, 'People would come to know us, and our personalities better, like we have seen with athletes from other sports like Neeraj Chopra, people would come to understand shooters more deepl.l' He also expressed his joy in playing in front of an Indian crowd, stating, 'Playing in front of an Indian crowd, in front of my own people, brings in a different kind of feeling for me, it requires a different mentality and mindset. There exists this added desire to do well in such an environment.' When asked if playing in India would bring about added pressure, he said, 'Not pressure, but enthusiasm.' The 21-year-old also hoped that the league would help expand the shooting community further, saying, 'Shooting is a great sport. India as a whole has a great shooting programme now and people also enjoy following the sport and our success. The league will present a great opportunity for people to gain an even more understanding about the sport and will help in increasing its popularity. The more people participate, the more competition will increase within India.' The 36-member Indian contingent recently delivered a successful performance at the 2025 ISSF World Cup in Munich, winning four medals - two gold and two bronze. India finished third in the overall medal tally, trailing only the People's Republic of China and Norway. He shed more light on the environment and reception towards the league among the shooting community, 'The environment is quite nice, positive vibes are flowing around the camp right now. There is a good feeling and excitement as the World Cups will be followed by the league, where we get to prove ourselves further.' He signed off by talking about how the league would bring about changes in the shooting culture, 'We play many World Cups, World Championships, and Asian Championships, but the league will have a different format, different selection policies. It will be a unique experience, a unique feeling, so we are all looking forward to the challenge.' (ANI)
News18
41 minutes ago
- News18
Neeraj Chopra Backs THIS Indian Cricketer To Be Potential Javelin Throw Star!
Last Updated: Neeraj Chopra praised Jasprit Bumrah's fitness and strength, suggesting he could excel as a javelin thrower. Real recognise real, no matter the sport. So did Neeraj Chopra, who recognised the greatness of Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who he believes could prove to be a great javelin thrower himself. During a segment on Star Sports, the star Indian javelin thrower was asked, by the likes of Navjot Singh Sidhu, who in the Indian cricket team he believes could excel as a javelin thrower as well. For the former Olympic champion Chopra, the answer was too simple: Jasprit Bumrah. 'I think it would be a fast bowler for sure. So, I think a fully fit Jasprit Bumrah will be really good at it," Chopra stated. Bumrah's impressive fitness, coupled with his strength, were the reasons why Chopra banked on the pacer to shine in the other sport as well. And well, there is no questioning Bumrah's excellence, who, despite the injury scare, secured his 14th five-wicket haul in Test cricket against England in the first Test at Headingley. The call on Bumrah's availability will be taken by him, in consultation with the medical team, and could well open or shut doors for other bowlers waiting in the wings and for a chance. Chopra, on the other hand, has been in fine form lately, having clinched wins in the Doha DL, Paris DL, and the Ostrava Golden Spike. Indian javelin throw ace is now all set to kick off the inaugural edition of the Neeraj Chopra Classic, slated to be held at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on the 5th of July. The NC Classic was originally scheduled to be held on the 24th of May, but had to be postponed in the aftermath of the armed conflict between India and neighbouring nation Pakistan. The event promises to pit seven international javelin throwers alongside five Indian athletes, including double Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra himself. First Published: June 28, 2025, 15:24 IST
News18
an hour ago
- News18
India Go Up Against Resilient Timor Leste In AFC Women's Asian Cup Qualifiers
Last Updated: Indian women's football team will look to continue the winning momentum in the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers when they take on Timor Leste. Following a resounding victory in their tournament opener, the Indian team aims to maintain their winning momentum in the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers as they face Timor Leste on Sunday. Group B, consisting of five teams, is currently led by Iraq, who have secured four points after a 5-2 win over Mongolia and a 0-0 draw with Timor Leste. Both India, having defeated Mongolia 13-0, and Thailand, with a 4-0 victory over Timor Leste, have three points each. Despite Timor Leste being ranked 158th, 32 spots below Mongolia, India's coach Crispin Chettri anticipates a tougher challenge from the Southeast Asian team. Having observed all teams in action after the first two matchdays, there is now a clearer understanding of the remaining three opponents. 'Timor Leste are better organised than Mongolia and, defensively, even stronger than Iraq. They prefer counter-attacks and are comfortable with possession," Chettri noted. 'They have their strengths, but Thailand dominated the match against them, so it's hard to gauge their attack. However, they have pace in their team." Chettri and his coaching staff watched the match at the 700th Anniversary of Chiang Mai Stadium on Thursday, where Timor Leste held 46th-ranked Thailand to four goals. India, ranked 70th, have never played against Timor Leste before. They have participated in four editions of the ASEAN Women's Championship, with their only official win being a 2-1 victory over Singapore in 2019. Their 0-0 draw with Iraq on Monday marked their first-ever point in an AFC competition. India used their five-day break to recover and prepare for the demanding schedule ahead, with three matches in a week. The Blue Tigresses had two morning training sessions on Tuesday and Thursday, and two sessions on Friday and Saturday. 'I believe that in a tournament with four matches, this kind of rest aids in team building. We worked on a few tactical aspects that we may not have executed well in the first match. 'We had four training sessions to focus on that, which has helped us prepare for the upcoming matches and specific teams," said Chettri. There was no training on Wednesday, as Chettri gave the players a complete rest day to refresh, something he considers crucial between games. 'In my view, recovery and spending time away from football are important. In a high-pressure tournament with consecutive matches, taking a break from the game helps. Players return more focused to the next training session, putting in more effort, which helps them mentally too," Chettri explained. First Published: June 28, 2025, 15:07 IST
