Bend it like Burrett

Jyoti Burrett (Sports and Health Science 2012) has joined the National India squad of 23 after successfully making it through team trials earlier this year. Since her selection Jyoti has gained her first cap for India playing in the AFC Women’s Championship qualifiers in Palestine.

Jyoti’s footballing career started after she taught herself to juggle footballs with her feet after seeing an advert featuring freestyle football. Although she quickly built up skills as a freestyler, it wasn’t until starting at University that her passion for football as a team sport really shone through. Jyoti joined the Delhi University Women’s Football team whilst studying for her undergraduate degree. After moving to Exeter to continue her studies Jyoti looked to improve her football skills further and joined the Exeter Ladies Football team.

Jyoti said of her time in Exeter, “Being part of the Ladies Football team was the highlight of my time in Exeter. It was my first real experience of playing as part of a team, through a full season. In fact, I wasn’t even sure of what position suited me best on the field, until I started training with the team and our coaches encouraged me to play as a striker. I owe much of my footballing success to my season with the University of Exeter Ladies Football Club.”

Jyoti is now looking forward to representing her country in upcoming friendly matches and at the South Asian Football Tournament early next year.

For more information on Jyoti please visit http://www.the-aiff.com/women-football.htm?id=1