Udaipur: Zinc Football Academy’s (ZFA) goalkeeper Sonam Ghosh has been selected for the India Under-17 national team that will play two friendly matches against a higher-ranked opponent Uzbekistan on August 27 and August 30 in Tashkent.Sonam has been a standout performer for Zinc Football Academy throughout the season, playing pivotal roles in a landmark year for the academy’s girls programme. Her consistent performances helped ZFA clinch the Rajasthan State Senior Women’s League title among three other titles, while also guiding the team to a semi-final finish in the inaugural AIFF U-17 Women’s Youth League this year.The 15-year-old goalkeeper has been part of two national camps, underlining her steady growth and reliability between the posts. She hails from the small town of Arambagh in West Bengal and comes from a humble background, as her father, a cable operator, works hard to support his daughter’s footballing dreams after he was forced to step away from the sport due to an injury.
ZFA’s young girl continues to shine after a historic season across national and state competitions
Sonam is part of Zinc Football Academy’s historic first batch of the girls’ team, launched in 2025. In just one year, the young squad has rapidly established itself as a force in Indian youth football, securing multiple titles including the Rajasthan Senior Women’s League, Doon Cup, Under-15 Asmita Football League, and DAV U-19 Nationals. It’s a proud moment for the academy as Sonam makes her place in the national team after being part of the recent trials camp.The team further cemented its rise by finishing among the top four teams in the country in the AIFF U-17 Women’s Youth League. These achievements mark another significant milestone for Zinc Football Academy’s rapidly growing girls programme, reinforcing Hindustan Zinc’s commitment to nurturing women’s football through its CSR initiative, Zinc Football.Since its inception in 2018, Zinc Football Academy – an AIFF 3-star rated Academy- has consistently produced players for India’s age-group teams, strengthening the nation’s talent pool. Alongside Rajrup Sarkar, ZFA players Sahil Poonia, Prem Hansdak, and Mohammed Kaif have also represented India, marking another milestone in the academy’s continued commitment to contributing to Indian football’s growth. In 2025, the company launched India’s first residential football academy for girls with an inaugural batch of 20 girls from rural backgrounds.Hindustan Zinc, a Vedanta Group company and the world’s largest integrated zinc producer, continues to advance its vision of holistic community development through social interventions and community development initiatives that nurture education, build skills, enable sustainable livelihoods, empower women, strengthen healthcare, and preserve the environment. With a footprint that spans over 4,100 villages, Hindustan Zinc is positively transforming the lives of more than 2.6 million people. It remains deeply committed to fostering inclusive growth and long-term social impact.
ZFA’s young girl continues to shine after a historic season across national and state competitions
It has also supported sports for nearly four decades, starting with its football stadium at Zawar in 1976, which continues to host annual National Football Tournaments. Extending beyond football to athletics, kabaddi and volleyball, the company also nurtures talent at the grassroots level. Its Vedanta Zinc City Half Marathon has put Udaipur on the global running map, with sports initiatives alone impacting nearly 30,000 lives.
