Indian Women's League
Organising bodyAll India Football Federation (AIFF)
Founded2016 (2016)
CountryIndia
ConfederationAFC
Number of teams7
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toIWL 2nd Division
International cup(s)AFC Women's Club Championship
Current championsGokulam Kerala (3rd title)
Most championshipsGokulam Kerala
(3 titles)
TV partnersIndian Football (YouTube)
Websitethe-aiff.com
Current: 2023–24

The Indian Women's League (abbreviated as the IWL) is the women's top tier professional football league in India.[1] Founded in 2016, currently a total of 7 teams from across the country participate in the league.[2]

The competition was planned since 2014 and got established in 2016, with the first season starting from October 2016 in Cuttack, Odisha.[3] The league was launched as India's first professional football league for women with the aim to increase the player pool for India national team. Since 2019–20, the clubs that become champions are granted an opportunity to play in the AFC Women's Club Championship, the top tier women's club football competition in Asia.

Until now four clubs have been crowned as champions: Eastern Sporting Union, Rising Students' Club, Sethu and Gokulam Kerala. Out of them Gokulam Kerala has lifted the championship trophy thrice.[4]

History

Origin

Since 1991, the top women's football tournament in India has been the Senior Women's National Football Championship, organised by the All India Football Federation. The tournament served as a female equivalent of the Santosh Trophy, with regional teams competing against each other.[5] There had not been an organized national football league for women clubs; however, the first women's football league was set up by the Indian Football Association (West Bengal) in Kolkata as Calcutta Women's Football League in 1993. Regional leagues were also organised in Mumbai and Goa in 1998 and 1999 respectively by the respective state associations.[6] But unfortunately due to lack of support, these amateur leagues were postponed for a long period or completely dissolved after a short run.

Foundation

In 2014, after the success of the India women's team, mainly in the SAFF Women's Championship, a push to start a women's football league, along the lines of recently inaugurated and successful Indian Super League, happened.[7] Clubs such as Pune and Bengaluru expressed interests in joining a national women's league.[7] It was around this time that AIFF started plans to create a league for women along the lines of ISL.[8]

On 21 April 2016, the AIFF president Praful Patel said that Indian Women's League would kick-off in October with six teams to be decided, and goal to expand to eight teams by 2017.[3] Over two months later, on 5 July, AIFF organized a workshop to discuss the India women's national team and proposed women's football league. Five Indian Super League sides – Delhi Dynamos, Chennaiyin, Kerala Blasters, Pune City and Atletico de Kolkata, and three I-League sides – Bengaluru, Aizawl and Mumbai, attended the workshop. It was announced that the league would feature eight teams and two other spots would be determined through a preliminary round.[9] The primary objective of the tournament was to capitalise the potential of Indian women and prepare them for the national team, so as to eventually qualify for AFC Women's Asian Cup and FIFA Women's World Cup.[10]

The preliminary round of the inaugural season was played from 17–26 October in Cuttack by 8 teams qualifying through a national qualifier of 20 teams across the country, and the main round of six teams took place the following year from 28 January to 14 February in New Delhi.[11] The six teams to participate in the main round were Aizawl, Alakhpura, Eastern Sporting Union, Jeppiaar Institute, Pune City and Rising Students' Club, and top four teams are decided to play the semi-finals after a single round-robin stage. Aizawl and Pune City were the only clubs from both the I-League and the ISL to field their women teams in the competition and had achieved direct qualification in main round. Eastern Sporting Union defeated Rising Students' Club by 3–0 in the final and became the inaugural champion of IWL.[12]

Expansion and improvements (2017–present)

The following season the AIFF extended their partnership with Hero MotoCorp and rebranded the league as the Hero IWL. The organisers also allowed the signing of foreign players in the main round but restricted to only two foreigners in matchday squad, while only one could be named in the starting eleven.[13] This season no other ISL or I-League club except Gokulam Kerala participated in the competition, therefore six teams were promoted from the preliminary round to the main round. Gokulam Kerala became the first Indian club to sign a foreigner, as they included two Ugandan internationals – Fazila Ikwaput and Rita Nabbosa.[13][14] The only other club to sign foreigners was Sethu: Bangladeshi internationals Sabina Khatun and Krishna Rani Sarkar, and British midfielder Tanvie Hans.[15][16] The preliminary round was played at Kolhapur from 25 November to 8 December 2017 among thirteen teams, and the main round was held from 26 March to 14 April 2018 in Shillong.[17] Last season's finalists met once again in the finals, but Rising Students' Club beat Eastern Sporting Union this time in the penalties to win the league.[18] From 2018–19 season, the qualification of teams was decided based on the results in respective state leagues, and the number of teams was also doubled to twelve. The format was also changed, and teams were divided into two groups to decide the top two from each group playing in the semi-finals. The season culminated with Sethu becoming the champion of IWL. Since 2019, AFC and FIFA jointly organised AFC Women's Club Championship, and India decided to participate in the second edition of the competition to be held in 2021 AFC Women's Club Championship.[19] Therefore, the winner of the 2019–20 season was decided to be the probable representative of India in the continental tournament.[20] At the final of the tournament, Gokulam Kerala became the champion of the season after remaining unbeaten throughout the tournament, thus became the first club to win the top-tier league of both men's and women's, and also the first Indian team to play in AFC Women's Club Championship.[20] In 2021–22, the AIFF changed the format to a single round-robin tournament and the team that would remain at the top of the table at the end, would be declared as the champions. Gokulam Kerala became the first club to defend their league title by finishing the season unbeaten, hence qualifying for the continental tournament for the second time in a row. In 2022–23, the league got expanded to 16 teams, with the top 8 of previous season to be eligible for direct qualification to the next season, irrespective of their results in the state leagues.[21]

Format

The competition format had varied over the initial seasons, but mostly played as a knock-out tournament where four teams qualified for the single-legged semi-finals through the group stage played in single round-robin format and eventually one would be declared as the champion by winning the final. Currently, the competition follows single round-robin league format of 12 rounds played at a single venue.[22] The winners of respective state leagues, along with previous season's top four teams, receive direct qualification to the league.[21][22] The interested clubs from the regions without any state tournament are to register for the IWL Qualifiers and earn a spot in the main round by winning the qualifier.[22]

Clubs

Current clubs

Locations of the Indian Women's League teams
Club City State/Region Stadium Capacity
East Bengal Kolkata West Bengal East Bengal Ground 23,500
Gokulam Kerala Kozhikode Kerala EMS Corporation Stadium 50,000
HOPS New Delhi Delhi Ambedkar Stadium 15,000
Kickstart Bengaluru Karnataka Bangalore Football Stadium 8,400
Odisha Bhubaneswar Odisha Kalinga Stadium 15,000
Bhubaneswar FA Ground 1,000
Sethu Madurai Tamil Nadu Tilak Maidan[lower-alpha 1] 5,000
Sports Odisha Bhubaneswar Odisha Capital Football Arena 1,500
  1. ↑ The club is based in Tamil Nadu but will play its home games in Goa for the 2023–24 season due to the unavailability of stadiums.

All time clubs to play in main round of IWL

ClubLocationNo. of
seasons		 Last app
(Pos)		Best finish
Aizawl Women Aizawl, Mizoram 1 2016–17 (6th in group) 6th in group (2016–17)
Alakhpura Bawani Khera, Haryana 2 2018–19 (6th in group) Semi-finalist (2016–17)
ARA Ahmedabad, Gujarat 1 2021–22 (8th) 8th (2021–22)
Bangalore United Bangalore, Karnataka 2 2019–20 (5th in group) 5th in group (2018–19,
2019–20)
BBK DAV Amritsar, Punjab 1 2019–20 (6th in group) 6th in group (2019–20)
Baroda Football Academy Vadodara, Gujarat 2 2019–20 (5th in group) 5th in group (2019–20)
Bidesh XI Assonora, Goa 1 2019–20 (6th in group) 6th in group (2019–20)
Celtic Queens Puducherry 1 2022–23 (6th in group) 6th in group (2022–23)
CRPF Jalandhar, Punjab 1 2022–23 (5th in group) 5th in group (2022–23)
Churchill Brothers Vasco da Gama, Goa 1 2022–23 (8th in group) 8th in group (2022–23)
East Bengal Kolkata, West Bengal 1 2022–23 (Quarter-finalist) Quarter-finalist (2022–23)
Eastern Sporting Union Imphal, Manipur 3 2022–23 (Semi-finalist) Champion (2016–17)
Gokulam KeralaKozhikode, Kerala 5 2022–23 (Champion) Champion (2019–20, 2021–22, 2022–23)
Hans Women FC New Delhi, Delhi 2 2021–22 (12th) 3rd in group (2018–19)
HOPS New Delhi, Delhi 1 2022–23 (Quarter-finalist) Quarter-finalist (2018–19)
Indian Arrows Bhubaneswar, Odisha 1 2021–22 (5th) 5th (2021–22)
Indira Gandhi AS&E Puducherry 1 2017–18 (6th in group) 6th in group (2017–18)
Jeppiaar Institute Puducherry 1 2016–17 (5th in group) 5th in group (2016–17)
Kahaani FC Ahmedabad, Gujarat 1 2022–23 (8th in group) 8th in group (2022–23)
Kenkre Women Mumbai, Maharashtra 1 2019–20 (Semi-finalist) Semi-finalist (2019–20)
Kickstart Bangalore, Karnataka 3 2022–23 (Runner-up) Runner-up (2022–23)
Kolhapur City Kolhapur, Maharashtra 2 2019–20 (4th in group) 3rd in group (2018–19)
KRYPHSA Imphal, Manipur 2 2019–20 (Runner-up) Runner-up (2019–20)
Lords FA Kochi, Kerala 1 2022–23 (7th in group) 7th in group (2022–23)
Manipur Police Imphal, Manipur 1 2018–19 (Runner-up) Runner-up(2018–19)
Mata Rukmani SC Bastar, Chhattisgarh 2 2022–23 (7th in group) 11th (2021–22)
Misaka United FC Bengaluru, Karnataka 1 2022–23 (5th in group) 5th in group (2022–23)
Mumbai Knights Mumbai, Maharashtra 1 2022–23 (6th in group) 6th in group (2022–23)
Odisha Bhubaneswar, Odisha 1 2022–23 (Quarter-finalist) Quarter-finalist (2022–23)
Odisha Police Bhubaneswar, Odisha 2 2021–22 (10th) 3rd in group (2019–20)
Panjim Footballers Panaji, Goa 1 2018–19 (4th in group) 4th in group (2018–19)
PIFA Sports Colaba Mumbai, Maharashtra 1 2021–22 (7th) 7th (2021–22)
Pune City Pune, Maharashtra 1 2016–17 (4th in group) 4th in group (2016–17)
Rising Students' Club Cuttack, Odisha 3 2018–19 (5th in group) Champion (2017–18)
Rush Soccer Mumbai, Maharashtra 1 2017–18 (7th in group) 7th in group (2017–18)
SAI (Cuttack) Cuttack, Odisha 1 2018–19 (4th in group) 4th in group (2018–19)
SSB Siliguri, West Bengal 2 2021–22 (6th) Semi-finalist (2018–19)
Sethu Madurai, Tamil Nadu 5 2022–23 (Semi-finalist) Champion (2018–19)
Sirvodem Navelim, Goa 1 2021–22 (9th) 9th (2021–22)
Sports Odisha Bhubaneswar, Odisha 2 2022–23 (Quarter-finalist) 4th (2021–22)
Sreebhumi Kolkata, West Bengal 1 2019–20 (4th in group) 4th in group (2019–20)

Media coverage

The first four seasons of the league lacked TV broadcasting, and matches were live streamed on the YouTube channel and the Facebook page of Indian Football.[23] Live updates of matches were also available on the Twitter profile of Indian Football. In 2022, the AIFF reached a deal with Eurosport India to telecast the fifth edition of IWL, but only 30 matches out of total 66 matches were telecast.[24][25] For the 2023-24 season, the IWL is broadcast on Indian Football YouTube channel.

Champions

Performance by season

Season Champions Runners-up Teams
2016–17 Eastern Sporting Union Rising Students Club 6
2017–18 Rising Students Club Eastern Sporting Union 7
2018–19 Sethu Manipur Police 12
2019–20 Gokulam Kerala KRYPHSA 12
2020–21 Cancelled due to Covid-19 pandemic
2021–22 Gokulam Kerala Sethu 12
2022–23 Gokulam Kerala Kickstart 16
2023–24 Ongoing 7

    Performance by club

    Club Champion Runner-up Winning season Runner-up season
    Gokulam Kerala 3 – 2019–20, 2021–22, 2022–23 –
    Eastern Sporting Union 1 1 2016–17 2017–18
    Rising Students' Club 1 1 2017–18 2016–17
    Sethu 1 1 2018–19 2021–22
    Manipur Police – 1 – 2018–19
    KRYPHSA – 1 – 2019–20
    Kickstart – 1 – 2022–23

    Winning head coaches

    As of 21 May 2023
    Head coach Club Wins Winning season
    India Oinam Bembem Devi Eastern Sporting Union 1 2016–17
    India Sukla Dutta Rising Students 1 2017−18
    India Amrutha Aravind Sethu 1 2018−19
    India Priya P. V. Gokulam Kerala 1 2019–20
    India Anthony Andrews Gokulam Kerala 2 2021–22, 2022–23

    Records

    Top goal scorers

    As of 14 July 2023
    Rank Player Seasons Goals
    1 Nepal Sabitra Bhandari 3 59
    2 India Bala Devi 4 48
    3 India Nongmaithem Ratanbala Devi 4 25
    India Sandhiya Ranganathan 4
    5 India Yumnam Kamala Devi 3 22
    6 Myanmar Win Theingi Tun 1 18
    7 India Grace Dangmei 4 15
    India Anju Tamang 4
    8 India Karishma Shirvoikar 2 11
    10 India Manisha Kalyan 3 10
    India Irom Prameshwori Devi 4
    India Kashmina Devi 3
    12 India Sanju Yadav 3 8
    14 India Sasmita Malik 1 7
    India Pyari Xaxa 3
    India Soumya Guguloth 1
    17 Bangladesh Sabina Khatun 1 6
    India Jabamani Tudu 3
    19 Uganda Fazila Ikwaput 1 5
    India Heigrujam Daya Devi 1
    India Indumathi Kathiresan 3
    India Pradeepa Sekar 3
    India Sumithra Kamaraj 2

    Top scorers by season

    Season Player Club Goals
    2016−17 India Kamala Devi Eastern Sporting Union 12
    2017−18 India Bala Devi KRYPHSA 12
    2018−19 India Bala Devi Manipur Police 26
    2019–20 Nepal Sabitra Bhandari Gokulam Kerala 16
    2021–22 Ghana Elshaddai Acheampong Gokulam Kerala 20
    2022–23 Nepal Sabitra Bhandari Gokulam Kerala 29

    See also

    References

    1. ↑ "IWL: Tough battle awaits for debutants Churchill Brothers". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Goa: The Times of India. TNN. 24 April 2023. Archived from the original on 24 April 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
    2. ↑ "New clubs and new goals are at the forefront of the Hero IWL". FootballExpress.in. 25 April 2023.
    3. 1 2 Puri, Rohan (21 April 2016). "Women's football league from October". Times of India. Archived from the original on 26 September 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
    4. ↑ "Indian Women's League 2023: Gokulam Kerala thrash Kickstart FC 5–0 to win third consecutive title". sportstar.thehindu.com. Chennai: Sportstar. 21 May 2023. Archived from the original on 22 May 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
    5. ↑ "India – List of Women's Champions". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 5 February 2010. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
    6. ↑ Sachin Madaan (23 July 2011). "Indian Football: This One Is For The Ladies". Retrieved 13 November 2012.
    7. 1 2 Das, Suprita (26 January 2015). "Now A Women's Football League?". NDTV Sports. Archived from the original on 13 May 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
    8. ↑ "AIFF Plans to Start Indian Super League-Style Women's Football". NDTV Sports. 17 December 2014. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
    9. ↑ "AIFF conducts workshop for National Women's League". Times of India. 5 July 2016. Archived from the original on 9 July 2016. Retrieved 6 July 2016.
    10. ↑ "INDIAN WOMEN'S LEAGUE PRELIMS TO KICK-OFF ON OCT 17". The All India Football Federation. 14 October 2016. Archived from the original on 19 October 2016. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
    11. ↑ "AIFF launches professional league for women footballers". Outlook India. 24 January 2017. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
    12. ↑ "EASTERN SPORTING UNION CROWNED CHAMPIONS OF INDIAN WOMEN'S LEAGUE". The AIFF. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
    13. 1 2 Sudevan, Praveen (26 March 2018). "Gokulam Kerala look to accomplish mission impossible in their Indian Women's League debut". Scroll. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
    14. ↑ Tennyson, Rayson P (19 March 2018). "Gokulam rope in two Uganda footballers for Women's League". The Times of India. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
    15. ↑ "Krishna, Sabina to fly for India today". thedailystar.net. 25 March 2018.
    16. ↑ Rohit Paniker (21 May 2019). "Tanvie Hans slowly and steadily reaching her football dream". India Today. Archived from the original on 6 December 2021. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
    17. ↑ "INDIAN WOMEN'S LEAGUE TO KICK-OFF ON MARCH 25". Aiff.com. 6 March 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
    18. ↑ Solomon, Joseph. "RISING STUDENT CLUB CROWNED CHAMPIONS OF HERO IWL". The AIFF. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
    19. ↑ Joseph, Martin. "AIFF keen to host women's league by September in light of continental invite". The Indian Express. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
    20. 1 2 "Gokulam Kerala FC to represent India in AFC Women's Club Championship". The Indian Express. 15 July 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
    21. 1 2 "Direct entry for top four teams in IWL, league to be played at three venues". The Times of India. 9 November 2022. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
    22. 1 2 3 "Indian Women's League (IWL) 2021-22 will kick off in Bhubaneswar on April 15 2022 with 12 teams". The Away End. 25 March 2022. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
    23. ↑ Thomas, Nevin (1 February 2017). "Indian Women's League: A new dawn". The Hindu. Sportstar. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
    24. ↑ "Indian Women's League to kickstart on April 15 on Eurosport India". The Times of India. 13 April 2022.
    25. ↑ "Eurosport India to broadcast Hero Indian Women's League 2021-22". Best Media Info. 13 April 2022. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
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