From Kharoo to the Continental Stage: Jimmy’s Journey to SAFF Futsal Silver

An emotional conversation with Ladakh’s trailblazer, Jigmet “Jimmy” Chunzen | Join us as Jimmy bares her soul, one pivotal step at a time.

Born: 26 September 2005 | Hometown: Kharoo

In the high-altitude region of Kharoo in Leh, where opportunities in professional sport are still growing, a young girl once played football with a tennis ball alongside neighbourhood boys. Today, that same girl—Jigmet Chunzen (Jimmy)—has scripted history as Ladakh’s first-ever futsal silver medallist at the SAFF Futsal Championship 2026, even captaining India on her debut.

Q: Jimmy, take us back to the beginning. How did it all start?

I initially started playing cricket with my brother. Gradually, during school, I developed a strong interest in football. I used to play with boys—both in school and with neighbours at home. Back then, all we could afford was a tennis ball, but that never stopped us.

Q: What was your childhood like, and who inspired you early on?

I started playing football at a very young age. One of my biggest inspirations was my school senior, Sonam Angmo. She was incredibly talented—not just in sports but also academically. Watching her, I decided I wanted to excel in both areas too.

From then on, I kept practicing every single day I could.

Q: When did you realize football was your calling?

As my interest in football grew, I gradually moved away from other sports like cricket and basketball—though I still enjoy them. But football was different. It was the one game that truly made me happy. I knew this was what I wanted to pursue seriously.

Q: How has football shaped you as a person?

Football has taught me so much beyond the game—communication skills, time management, discipline. When people around me—my school and community—started supporting me, it gave me confidence.

More than anything, football gives me pure happiness. It means everything to me.

Q: Tell us about your early competitive experiences.

Since childhood, I’ve played in many local tournaments with the Koga football team under Baku coach. We had several coaches supporting us as one of the first girls’ teams in the region.

Before that, I represented Leh in district competitions and we won many championships. I’m really grateful to Ma’am Shanaz and Sir Tsepaik for starting that journey for us.

Also, Ma’am Tsering Angmo, head of the Ladakh association, has played a huge role in my life. She has supported me since I first stepped into football.

Q: What role has coach Harpreet Bedi played in your journey?

He was the first person who showed me the path towards playing football professionally. From the very beginning, he guided me through every stage of my journey.

Even today, he is someone I rely on for every important decision in my career. I trust him completely when it comes to shaping my football journey. His belief in me and constant guidance have played a huge role in where I am today.

Q: You’ve played IWL qualifiers as well. How was that experience?

I started with Sudeva FC in Delhi and then India Rush FC in Mumbai

After coming to Pune, I trained under Rahul Kadlag sir, who helped me immensely—he even gave me extra sessions for free, which I’ll always be thankful for.

I played 2 IWL Qualifiers for Aspire FC, which truly feels like my second home. It’s not just a club for me—it’s like a family. The environment is so welcoming and supportive that I felt comfortable from day one.

Q: What makes Aspire FC feel like a second home to you?

At Aspire FC, there is a different kind of emotional connect. Everyone supports each other like a family—on and off the field.

Being away from Ladakh, that feeling matters a lot. At Aspire, I never felt like I was alone. My teammates and coaches always made sure I was comfortable, and that gave me confidence to express myself freely on the pitch.

Q: Your first impression of Coach Ranjeet Joshi?

The first impression I had of him was very strong. He looked calm, composed, and very impressive.

On the field, his coaching is very clear and detailed, and off the field, he is very friendly. That balance really helped me settle in quickly at Aspire FC.

Q: How did he influence your development, especially towards futsal?

Ranjeet sir played a very important role in my futsal journey.

He was the one who informed me on time about the futsal opportunity, which I had missed the previous year. During training, he shared a lot of knowledge about futsal—gameplay, positioning, and combinations.

That understanding helped me a lot when I stepped onto the international stage.

Q: You’ve represented at multiple national levels. What stands out?

I’ve played Sub-Junior Nationals for J&K, Junior Nationals for Ladakh, and four Senior Nationals for the Ladakh team. Last season, I was called up for Nita Football Academy for the IWL.

The intensity there was much higher than I expected, but I learned so much. It was truly a mesmerizing experience.

Q: When did futsal enter your journey?

The moment I heard about futsal, I knew I wanted to be part of it. Last year, I missed out due to scheduling issues, but this time I got the information early.

Futsal is a very intense format with fewer players, and coordination becomes extremely important. It’s a completely different challenge and I really enjoyed it.

Q: Captaining India on your debut is extraordinary. What was that moment like?

It’s the biggest achievement of my life so far.

When my coach called and told me I would be captaining the Indian team at the SAFF Championship, I was surprised, excited, and honestly a bit pressured too. But one of my teammates, Mithila di, told me to treat pressure as a privilege—and that really stayed with me.

Even though I wore the captain’s armband, I truly believe every player in the team showed leadership throughout the tournament.

Q: The journey wasn’t without challenges, especially injuries. How did you cope?

Yes, it was tough. I suffered my first ankle injury and later a quad injury towards the end of the camp. It affected my game time and was mentally challenging.

But my teammates and the officials supported me throughout. That support system made all the difference.

Q: Tell us about your family and their role in your journey.

We are a family of five. My mom is a housewife, and my dad is an electrician. My brother is into hotel management and software engineering, and my sister is a medical student.

They’ve always supported me, even when football wasn’t a conventional path.

Q: You’ve studied in Ladakh and Pune—how has that shaped you?

I completed my schooling at Druk Padma Karpo School in Ladakh. Then I moved to Pune for junior college at Fergusson College and later studied at Spicer Adventist University.

Moving out helped me grow—not just as a player but as a person. Exposure to better facilities and coaching played a huge role.

Q: Finally, what does this SAFF Futsal silver medal mean to you and Ladakh?

It means everything.

Coming from Ladakh and achieving this milestone shows that talent exists everywhere—it just needs the right support and opportunities. I hope this inspires more girls from my region to take up football and futsal.

This is just the beginning.

From a tennis ball in Kharoo in Ladakh to leading India on the international futsal stage, Jigmet Chunzen’s journey is a powerful blend of resilience, opportunity, and belief. While her roots shaped her grit, it was the sense of belonging and support at Aspire FC—her second home—that helped her evolve into a leader.

As Ladakh celebrates its first-ever SAFF Futsal silver medallist, Jimmy’s story stands as inspiration for many more to dream, step forward, and believe that they belong on the biggest stages.

-AspireExclusive