India International Custodian Makes History After Playing Competitive Game for English Side West Ham

The news of English side West Ham Ladies signing Indian International goalkeeper Aditi Chauhan has set the Internet into a frenzy .

The 22-year-old Delhi girl is on cloud nine after receiving the overwhelming response on Twitter and from Indian newspapers. She started as the first choice goalkeeper for the Hammers in the FA Women's Premier League game against Coventry United on Sunday.

Chauhan failed to keep the sheet clean and didn't have a memorable start as she conceded as many as five goals in the 5-0 drubbing.

However, she still holds the record of becoming the first Indian woman to feature for an English outfit in a competitive game.

Looking back at the game, Chauhan responded: "There is no other way but to improve from here. We need to build ourselves back, get together and move forward," she told the club's YouTube channel.

"It's a step up for me after playing for Loughborough [University team]. "I am excited about the league. I am looking forward to playing for West Ham," she added.

On the match against Coventry on Sunday, she further told The Times of India: "I'm not happy about the result. I could have played better. But of course I have watched the West Ham men's team on television and it was like a dream come true when I donned their jersey with the same logo."

West Ham Ladies are currently playing in the third tier of women's club football in England.

Chauhan has played a prominent role in guiding the Indian Women's Football Team - ranked 56 by FIFA at present - in winning the women's South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) cup in 2013.

She has been pursuing MSc in sports management at Loughborough University and it is there that she started playing for the university team.

"The goalkeeping coach (Julian) spotted me while I was training with Millwall," Chauhan told TOI.

"He was quite impressed and wanted me at West Ham. He is the goalkeeping coach for both the teams so it was easy for him to convince the West Ham head coach (Mark Nurse)."

Another Delhi girl, Tanvie Hans -- who holds a British passport, is also playing for Fulham in the fourth tier of English football. She is, however, yet to make the cut in the first 11.

Among the other Indian women players, the trio of Bembem Devi, Bala Devi and Ashalata Devi ply their trade at Maldivian League outfit New Radiant.