Mumbai: Indian national team captain Sunil Chhetri was on Saturday declared AIFF Player of the Year for the third time in four years, while Bala Devi took the Women’s Player of the Year award.
Sandesh Jhingan, who played for Kerala Blasters in the Indian Super League (ISL), was the Emerging Player of the Year.
Chhetri was chosen the winner on the basis of votes from coaches from I-League clubs, according to an All India Football Federation (AIFF) release.
Devi scored 16 goals to help India retain the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) women’s crown in Islamabad. The 24-year-old will be presented with Rs100,000 (Dh5,752) as well a trophy.
Chhetri will be presented a prize of Rs200,000 and a trophy. This was his fourth award overall, taking him past I.M. Vijayan’s feat of winning it three times.
“It’s humbling to be awarded this prestigious award for a record fourth time. I’ve said this before and reiterate that, while the accolades and awards may be fulfilling, it is the love for doing what I do best that keeps me going,” Chhetri said.
“There are some great names in the list who have received the award earlier and winning it for the fourth time makes me feel proud. If you look at the list, there have been many whom I have been lucky to play along with and there have been some whom I always looked up to during my school days.”
The 30-year-old said the award would motivate him to improve his game.
“It means a lot to me. It’s an inspiration to further improve and meet the responsibilities and expectations which come along it. That all the coaches found me competent to receive the award is a huge honour for me.”
