Saru Limbu

Saru Limbu
Personal information
Date of birth (1999-03-06) 6 March 1999 (age 27)
Place of birth Morang, Nepal
Position Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2022 APF (20)
2021 Masha United 4 (19)
2022–2023 Kickstart 10 (7)
2023–2026 APF
2026 Kickstart
2026 Paro WFC
International career
2016– Nepal 22 (3)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Saru Limbu (Nepali: सरु लिम्बु; born 6 March 1999) is a Nepalese women's professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for the Nepali national team.

Early life

Growing up in her hometown in Morang District, Limbu used to watch local football matches, and her friends and cousins influenced her to play football. After playing for New Star, she attracted the attention of bigger clubs including Nepal A.P.F. Club.

Career

In 2016, APF offered her a contract. When she joined APF, key players such as Anu Lama and Sajana Rana were injured, so Limbu got an immediate chance to play. After a dominant performance in the Chief of Army Staff Cup, she was called up to Nepal women's national football team. After consistently performing well at club level and in closed camps, she was selected for Nepal's squad for the 2016 SAFF Women's Championship. Limbu also captained Nepal's under-18 women's team at the 2018 SAFF U-18 Women's Championship. Limbu was one of four Nepal national team players recruited to play in the 2021 edition of Pakistan's National Women Football Championship, for Masha United in Karachi. The side finished top of its group, scoring 60 goals in four matches. These included a 19–0 win over Sialkot (Limbu scoring 10 goals), a 4–0 triumph over Higher Education Commission, a 35–0 victory over Karachi (Limbu again scoring 10), and a 2–2 draw with Karachi United. They reached the semi-finals before the tournament was cancelled. She returned to play in Nepal's domestic league for Nepal A.P.F. Club.

International goals

As of match played on 21 October 2024
Appearances and goals by year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Nepal
20211
20240
20251
Total2
Scores and results list Nepal's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Limbu goal.
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.12 September 2022Dasharath Rangasala, Kathmandu, Nepal Sri Lanka2–06–02022 SAFF Women's Championship
2.29 June 2025Milliy Stadium, Tashkent, Uzbekistan Laos3–09–02026 AFC Women's Asian Cup qualification

Honours

Kickstart

Individual

Year Tournament Award
COAS International Women Football Tournament Best midfielder
Chief Minister BYC Women Gold Cup Best midfielder
2021 National Women League Most Valuable Player

References

  1. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/parofcwomen/photos/welcome-saru-limbu-to-paro-fc-as-paro-fc-moves-to-within-two-matches-of-qualifyi/1525238266287926/
  2. 1 2 3 diwakar (26 February 2021). "Saru Limbu began playing football barefoot. Today, she has a bigger dream for her nation - OnlineKhabar English News". Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  3. ↑ "We will return to Pakistan with the pride of Nepal: Saru Limbu". MakaluKhabar. 5 March 2021. Archived from the original on 6 April 2023. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  4. ↑ National Women’s Football Championship set to kick off amid Covid cloud Umaid Wasim 9 March 2021 Dawn Retrieved 9 March 2021
  5. ↑ National Women’s Football Championship Due To Start Tomorrow Fida Husnain 8 March 2021 Retrieved 9 March 2021
  6. ↑ Wasim, Umaid (10 March 2021). "Lop-sided victories as national women's football kicks off". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  7. ↑ Sports, A. R. Y. (20 March 2021). "Masha beat HEC to win second game in National Women's Football Championship". ARYSports.tv. Archived from the original on 29 January 2022. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  8. ↑ "Masha United whip Karachi Women FC 35-0". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  9. ↑ "Karachi United, Highlanders club withdraw from National Women Football Championship ahead of semi-finals". www.geo.tv. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  10. ↑ "Gokulam Kerala steamroll Kickstart to complete hat-trick of Hero IWL titles". the-aiff.com. All India Football Federation. 21 May 2023. Archived from the original on 22 May 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  11. ↑ "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.
  12. ↑ "APF's Saru Limbu is the best player in the women's league". Himal Sanchar. Retrieved 29 June 2022.[dead link]