Ankit Sharma (footballer)

Ankit Sharma
Born	(1991-07-30) July 30, 1991 New Delhi, India
Occupation	Professional footballer
Years active	2010–present
Known for	First Indian to sign a professional contract with a Spanish club

Ankit Sharma (born 30 July 1991 in New Delhi) is a professional football player from India who operates both as a midfielder and forward. Throughout his career, he has played for the Delhi Football Team, various Indian youth national squads, HAL Bangalore, and Spain’s Deportivo San Cristóbal competing in the Divisiones Regionales de Fútbol in the Community of Madrid. Sharma holds the distinction of being the first Indian to secure a professional contract with a Spanish club and ranks as the fifth Indian footballer to compete internationally.

HAL

At age 19, Sharma launched his professional journey with HAL during the 2010–11 I-League season. Although he faced a six-month interruption due to a knee injury sustained in the Dr. B.C Roy Trophy Semi-Final, he made a full recovery and participated in every match following his signing that season.

In a training session preceding a fixture against Pune FC, Sharma was involved in an accidental collision with HAL goalkeeper Arun Kumar. This incident resulted in Kumar suffering a fractured shin on his right leg, while Sharma incurred a right knee injury that kept him out for one week.

San Cristobal

In the 2011-12 season, Sharma became the pioneer Indian footballer to ink a professional deal with a Spanish club by joining Deportivo San Cristóbal, competing within the Divisiones Regionales de Fútbol in the Community of Madrid. This move followed his impressive performance with HAL in the preceding I-League season.

Bhawanipore

For the 2012-13 campaign, Sharma signed with Bhawanipore FC, a club participating in both the I-League Second Division and the Calcutta Football League.

Honours

India U-19

• Dr. B.C. Roy Trophy: 2009-10 (Captain, Second Runners-Up)

HAL

• I-League 2010-11

See also

• List of Indian football players in foreign leagues

External links

• Live your dream till the last breath : Ankit Sharma at indianfootballnetwork.com