In a groundbreaking move that marks a historic moment for Bhutanese football, Kickstart FC of the Indian Women’s League has signed 22-year-old Sonam Choden on a short-term deal. The midfielder, affectionately known as “Chungku,” hails from Punakha and becomes the first Bhutanese woman to play professionally in India.
Choden’s football journey began at the tender age of 14 when she joined the Gelephu Football Academy in 2015. Over the years, she has developed her skills with stints at Mandala Women’s FC and, more recently, RTC Women’s FC, where she made her mark after joining in 2023. Her impressive resume includes appearances in AFC championships, FIFA friendlies, and the SAFF Women’s Championships, during which she scored crucial goals for Bhutan.
“I am very excited to start my professional football journey with Kickstart FC in the Indian I-League. This is a very big start for me, and I hope it will open doors for many Bhutanese women in football. I am looking forward to the challenges ahead and am grateful to my family, teammates, and supporters,” said Choden, whose talent has earned her 18 international caps and six goals for her country.
Her club career in Bhutan boasts three National Women’s League titles—two with RTC Women’s FC and another with BFF Academy FC—along with being named the Most Valuable Player in the 2023 season. Choden is now set to infuse creativity into Kickstart FC’s midfield as they strive for a stronger finish in the league. With only six games remaining in the season and the team languishing in 7th place out of eight, her arrival is viewed as a significant boost to the squad’s ambitions.
Notably, Choden is the second Bhutanese woman to make an international leap, following in the footsteps of Deki Lhazom, who made history by signing with Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ittihad FC. As Choden prepares for her debut against Sribhumi FC this Thursday, fans and pundits alike will be watching closely, hopeful that her performance will inspire a new generation of Bhutanese women to pursue professional football.
