Saraju Chakraborty
Gulti Chowdhury, a girl of a remote unknown village, Brahmacherra in West Tripura's Teliamura sub-division was like a hidden treasure until she was discovered by a physical instructor while playing a football match at a town.
She used to play football in the village with boys in her teen because girls did not play football in the village. Now she is a celebrity of the state, who represented India two times. She is the only women international footballer of Tripura.
"I love to play football. So I played with boys, because girls did not play football in my village", she said
Born in a poor farmer's family she was the youngest of five children she was brought up uncared, but had a dream of playing football for the country.
"My aim in life was to play football for country. So, I worked hard in the field and tried to play like a boy", she remarked.
Gulti was spotted as a footballer by Sunil Sarkar, Physical Instructor of Teliamura School in 1999 while playing an exhibition match at Khowai town. "There Ranjan sir spotted me for his team New Millennium Soccer Club. This was turning point of my life", Gulti said.
After then Gulti played first time in Women Football Tournament at Agartala in 2000. For her brilliant show she was selected as a member of Tripura team for National Tournament
"When I got selection for state team, I set my target to represent our country. I was very confident of hitting the target", the woman footballer said.
In 2005, Gulti was selected first time for Indian Junior team for Asian Women Football Tournament in Seoul, South Korea. "I was delighted because it was my dream which came true. I can't forget this moment of my life", Gulti added.
After two years, Gulti represented Indian Senior team for Asian Tournament in 2007. She Said, "My next target is to play as a playing member of Indian Senior team. I want to play for my country".