Sanju Yadav

Sanju Yadav (born 12 September 1997) is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Odisha FC in the Indian Women's League and the India women's national football team.

Early life
Born in the village of Alakhpura, Yadav began playing football at the age of ten in order to gain scholarships and money for her family. She mainly trains with her village players and the India national team.

Domestic career
In October 2016, Sanju was part of the Alakhpura side that took part in the preliminary round of the Indian Women's League. On 17 October 2016, she scored a hattrick for the club against Bodyline. This helped her side win 4–0. She emerged the top scorer at the league's preliminary round, netting 11 goals and thus helping her team qualify for the tournament's final round. At the final round of the women's league she helped her team qualify in the semi finale by scoring three goals.

On 21 December 2016, after her performances for both her club and country, Yadav was named the AIFF Emerging Player of the Year.

She then joined Rising Student's Club for the 2017-18 Indian Women's League and scored 2 goals for the club in the Final Round. In 2019 she joined Gokulam Kerala FC.

International career
In February 2016, Yadav was selected as a member of the 20-woman India squad that would participate in the 2016 South Asian Games. She made her debut and scored her first goal internationally on 13 February 2016 against Bangladesh. Her goal in the 74th minute was the fourth as India won 5–1 and moved into the gold medal match. Two days later she came on as a substitute in the 69th minute as India won the tournament, defeating Nepal 4–0 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong.

International

 * Scores and results list India's goal tally first.

Honours
India
 * SAFF Women's Championship: 2016, 2019
 * South Asian Games Gold medal: 2016

Odisha
 * Indian Women's League: 2023–24

Rising Students Club
 * Indian Women's League: 2017–18

Individual
 * AIFF Women's Emerging Player of the Year: 2016