On Sunday, a former player of Gokulam Kerela FC in the Indian Women's League (IWL), Jyoti Chauhan made history by becoming the first Indian footballer to score a hat-trick in Croatia, Europe.
Jyoti has participated in the Croatian Women's League where she played for ZNK Dinamo Zagreb where she defeated ZNK Agram in the final match.
She scored three times throughout the game, in the 28th, 37th, and 46th minute, giving her team an easy 4-1 victory.
Jyoti hails from Madhya Pradesh and is also the first ever Indian football player to score a goal at the Croatian top division league in March 2023. She made her club debut in the 89th minute of Zagreb's 4-0 victory against Rijeka. Since that time, the talented Indian football player become a starter in the playing XI.
The first Indian women's players to sign a contract in Croatia's top league were Jyoti and national player Soumya Guguloth. After a successful trial, both of these players were signed by ZNK Dinamo Zagreb.
A charitable organization Women in Sports has organized this trial which was attended by Mia Medvedoski, the women's assistant coach for Dinamo Zagreb.
Both of these female players were selected by Mia herself. The players have also agreed to a one-year contract with the club. In addition to this, Jyoti and Saumya will be the first foreign football players to ever play for the Croatian team.
Calicut, Kerela-based Gokulam Kerela FC won its inaugural IWL in 2019-20. After that, they represented India in the AFC Women's Club Championship for the first time in 2021.
