BENGALURU: The International Women's Day was no different for Paromita Sit as she went through her training routines with a workout at the gym in the morning. The top-scorer for Bangalore United Football Club (BUFC), who powered her team to the title in the State Women's Super Division, is sure that Karnataka will soon contribute more players to the India team.
The 31-year-old forward, already a coach with a C License, made the city her second home after moving from Kolkata five years back and is determined to help her adopted state emerge as a powerhouse in women's football.
Paromita relocated to Bengaluru after finding a job with a private firm as football coach. "For the last five years there was nothing for women's footballers. But now we have the league and I want to thank the KSFA for that," the forward, who tallied 13 goals in the league, told TOI.
The Howrah-born Paromita, who has donned the Karnataka colours since 2014 and led the team for the first time last year, is now a player-cum-coach at BUFC. "I want to remain here. Back in Bengal, there are so many coaches. But here we have only a few like Chitra (Gangadharan) madam and I want to help," said Paromita, who wants to complete her B License this year.
Predicting a bright future for women's football in the state, Paromita, who played for India U-19 in 2004, said: "There are quite a few talented players. Our team was easily the best in the tournament but young players like Crystal Ann Pinto, Vinaya Seshan, Harishitha and Lekhasri are capable of breaking into the national squad if they keep up the hard work. Crystal, BUFC goalkeeper, has already been selected for the national camp."
Paromita was part of the Indian team that played in the 2004 Asian Junior Championship in Suzhou in China but her career was derailed following a knee injury during the last day of the camp in
Patiala
for the Pre-Olympic qualifiers in 2006. Thereafter, her playing days in the national squad was hampered by knee injuries and she last played in the national team in the Pre-Olympic qualifiers in 2013. The Karnataka medio was among the standbys for the 2014 Incheon Asiad.
FAST FACTSName: Paromita Sit
Age: 31
Club: Bangalore United Football Club
Teams: India, India U-19, Bengal, Karnataka, BUFC
Tournaments: Asian Junior (U-19) Championship, 2004, Suzhou, China; Pre-Olympic Qualifier, 2013
Achievements: National Championship Runners-up trophy with Bengal; KSFA Womens' Super Division League title with BUFC
Coaching: C License.