Indian Jyoti Chauhan, a former Gokulam Kerala FC player in the Indian Women’s League (IWL), wrote her name in the record books in Croatia on Sunday, becoming the first Indian footballer to score a hat-trick in Europe.

Playing for ZNK Dinamo Zagreb, the 23-year-old completed the feat against ZNK Agram in the final league game of the season in the Croatian Women’s League.

She scored in the 28th, 37th, and 46th minute of the match, ensuring a comprehensive 4-1 victory for her team.

The former Gokulam player, who hails from Madhya Pradesh, was also the first-ever Indian footballer to score a goal in the Croatian top-division league, back in March this year. She scored her first goal for the club in the 89th minute in Zagreb’s 4-0 win over Rijeka. Since then, the star Indian footballer has been a regular starter in the playing XI.

Jyoti and India national player Soumya Guguloth were the first Indian women’s players to get a contract in Croatia’s top league. Both were signed by ZNK Dinamo Zagreb after a successful trial.

The trial was organised by the charitable body Women in Sports. It was attended by the assistant coach of the Dinamo Zagrev women’s team Mia Medvedoski. She selected both girls, who had played for Gokulam Kerala FC in the Indian Women’s League.

They have signed a year-long contract with the club. Soumya and Jyoti are also the first-ever international footballers to play for the Croatian club. Coming from a small village of Madhya Pradesh’s Sardarpur (Dhar), Jyoti lost her father when she was just 12 years old. Her mother, who works as an agricultural labourer, runs the family.

Gokulam Kerala FC, based in Calicut, Kerala, won the first IWL In 2019–20. They then retained the title in 2021–22. In 2021, they became the first club to represent India in the AFC Women’s Club Championship.