| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | (1999-03-06) 6 March 1999 | ||
| Place of birth | Morang, Nepal | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | APF | ||
| Number | 8 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2016–2022 | APF | (20) | |
| 2021 | Masha United | 4 | (19) |
| 2022–2023 | Kickstart | 10 | (7) |
| 2023– | APF | ||
| International career | |||
| 2016– | Nepal | 22 | (3) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Saru Limbu (Nepali: सरु लिम्बु; born 6 March 1999) is a Nepalese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder. She is also a member of 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.[1]
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.[1] 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.[1] 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.[2][3] The side finished top of its group, scoring 60 goals in four matches.[4] These included a 19–0 win over Sialkot (Limbu scoring 10 goals),[5] a 4–0 triumph over Higher Education Commission,[6] a 35–0 victory over Karachi (Limbu again scoring 10),[7] and a 2–2 draw with Karachi United. They reached the semi-finals before the tournament was cancelled.[8] 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
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nepal | |||
| 2021 | 1 | ||
| 2024 | 0 | ||
| 2025 | 1 | ||
| Total | 2 | ||
- Scores and results list Nepal's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Limbu goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 12 September 2022 | Dasharath Rangasala, Kathmandu, Nepal |  Sri Lanka |
2–0 | 6–0 | 2022 SAFF Women's Championship |
| 2. | 29 June 2025 | Milliy Stadium, Tashkent, Uzbekistan |  Laos |
3–0 | 9–0 | 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup qualification |
Honours
Kickstart
- Indian Women's League runner-up: 2022–23[9][10]
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[11] |
References
- ^ a b c 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ National Women’s Football Championship set to kick off amid Covid cloud Umaid Wasim 9 March 2021 Dawn Retrieved 9 March 2021
- ^ National Women’s Football Championship Due To Start Tomorrow Fida Husnain 8 March 2021 Retrieved 9 March 2021
- ^ Wasim, Umaid (10 March 2021). "Lop-sided victories as national women's football kicks off". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Masha United whip Karachi Women FC 35-0". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
- ^ "Karachi United, Highlanders club withdraw from National Women Football Championship ahead of semi-finals". www.geo.tv. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "APF's Saru Limbu is the best player in the women's league". Himal Sanchar. Retrieved 29 June 2022.[dead link]
