Baljit Sahni

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Baljit Sahni

| image = Baljit Singh.jpg

| image_size = 200px

| caption =

| fullname = Baljit Singh Sahni

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1987|1|12|df=y}}

| birth_place = Hoshiarpur, Punjab, India

| height = {{height|m=1.75}}

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| position = Forward

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = JCT

| years1 = 2008–2010

| clubs1 = JCT

| caps1 = 40

| goals1 = 14

| years2 = 2010–2015

| clubs2 = East Bengal

| caps2 = 31

| goals2 = 10

| years3 = 2014

| clubs3 = → Atlético de Kolkata (loan)

| caps3 = 16

| goals3 = 2

| years4 = 2015

| clubs4 = → Atlético de Kolkata (loan)

| caps4 = 5

| goals4 = 0

| years6 = 2016

| clubs6 = DSK Shivajians

| caps6 = 12

| goals6 = 1

| years7 = 2016

| clubs7 = Chennaiyin

| caps7 = 8

| goals7 = 0

| years8 = 2017

| clubs8 = Mumbai

| caps8 = 4

| goals8 = 0

| years9 = 2017–2018

| clubs9 = FC Pune City

| caps9 = 11

| goals9 = 0

| nationalyears1 = 2010

| nationalteam1 = India

| nationalcaps1 = 3

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| club-update = 29 December 2016

| ntupdate = 29 December 2016

}}

Baljit Sahni (born 12 January 1987) is an Indian former professional footballer who played as a forward.{{cite web|first=Amoy|last=Ghoshal|url=http://www.goal.com/en-india/match/67969/east-bengal-vs-mohd-sp/report|title=Federation Cup: East Bengal 1-1 Mohammedan Sporting - Red & Gold Brigade Held After Unconvincing Display|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111029051716/http://www.goal.com/en-india/match/67969/east-bengal-vs-mohd-sp/report|archive-date=29 October 2011|website=www.goal.com|publisher=Goal|date=17 September 2011|access-date=25 December 2013}}

Career

=JCT=

Sahni had played for JCT for 5 years. In the 2009–10 season he scored the first hat trick of the season against Shillong Lajong.{{cite web|title=Sahni cracks hat-trick as JCT whip Lajong|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/Sahni-cracks-hat-trick-as-JCT-whip-Lajong/articleshow/5087758.cms|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411033750/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-10-05/top-stories/28084954_1_jct-niwan-shillong-lajong|url-status=live|archive-date=11 April 2013|work=The Times of India|access-date=29 March 2013}} On 11 November 2009 however Sahni was seriously injured in a bike accident along with teammate Sunil Kumar Thakur in Margao, Goa while the team were preparing for an upcoming match against Salgaocar in the I-League.{{cite web|title=JCT's Baljit Sahni & Sunil Kumar Meet With Serious Accident|url=http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/1064/i-league/2009/11/12/1619068/jcts-baljit-sahni-sunil-kumar-meet-with-serious-accident|work=Goal.com|accessdate=29 March 2013}} As a result of the accident Sahni required 25 stitches and he fractured his shin. At this point in the season Sahni was in top form with six goals in the opening seven matches. However, on 28 January 2010 Sahni played in his first game since the accident, coming on as a second-half substitute and he even scored a goal as JCT Mills defeated Sporting Goa 2–0.{{cite web|title=I-League: JCT Beats Sporting As Baljit Sahni Scores On His Return|url=http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/1064/i-league/2010/01/28/1765047/i-league-jct-beats-sporting-as-baljit-sahni-scores-on-his|work=Goal.com|accessdate=29 March 2013}}

=East Bengal=

In 2010 Sahni signed with I-League giants East Bengal.{{cite web|title=B. SAHNI|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/baljit-singh-sahni/71241/|work=Soccerway|accessdate=29 March 2013}}

Retirement and financial struggle

Sahni faced monetary issues while playing, so he decided to retire early at the age of 31. Sahni said, "In 2019 I left for Canada. I was not getting paid enough. I had to earn my bread and butter and I also have a family to take care of. I retired from football because after football there is a life too and that is hard but you have to accept that life and take it on the chin."{{cite web|url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/sport/football/bread-bitter/articleshow/77057054.cms|title=Bread & Butter|date=20 July 2020}}

Career statistics

{{updated|14 April 2015}}{{Cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/baljit-singh-sahni/71241/|title=India - B. Sahni - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway|website=int.soccerway.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.soccerpunter.com/players/71241-Baljit-Singh-Sahni|title=Baljit Singh Sahni - Profile and Statistics - SoccerPunter.com|website=www.soccerpunter.com}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.jctfootball.com/news/newsCategory.aspx?NewsCatId=120|title=JCT Football :: News|website=www.jctfootball.com}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.national-football-teams.com/player/44248/Baljit_Singh_Sahni.html|title=Baljit Singh Sahni|first=Benjamin|last=Strack-Zimmermann|website=www.national-football-teams.com}}

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|Federation Cup !colspan="2"\|Durand Cup !colspan="2"\|AFC !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center;"
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan="3"\|JCT \|2007–08 \|I-League	15	3	0	0	0	0	—	—	15	3
2008–09 \|I-League	12	3	2	1	4	1	—	—	18	5
2009–10 \|I-League	13	8	0	0	1	1	—	—	14	9
rowspan="4"\|East Bengal \|2010–11 \|I-League	6	6	0	0	0	0	6	3	12	9
2011–12 \|I-League	5	2	0	0	0	0	5	0	10	2
2012–13 \|I-League	6	0	0	0	0	0	7	0	13	0
2013–14 \|I-League	9	2	0	0	0	0	—	—	9	2
rowspan="1"\|Atletico de Kolkata (loan) \|2014 \|ISL	16	2	—	—	—	—	—	—	16	2
rowspan="1"\|East Bengal \|2014–15 \|I-League	5	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	8	0
colspan="3"\|Career total !87	24	2	1	5	2	21	3	115	20