Bala Devi

Ngangom Bala Devi (born 2 February 1990) is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Indian Women's League club Odisha and the India women's national team.

In this Meitei name, the family name is Ngangom and the given name is Bala. "Devi" is a name suffix.

Bala Devi
Personal information
Full name Ngangom Bala Devi
Date of birth (1990-02-02) 2 February 1990
Place of birth Manipur, India
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 Odisha
Number 10
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015 New Radiant 7 (25)
2016–2017 Manipur Police
2017 Eastern Sporting Union 3 (4)
2017–2018 KRYPHSA 7 (12)
2018-2019 Manipur Police 7 (26)
2020–2021 Rangers 9 (2)
2022 Manipur Police
2023 Odisha 8 (6)
International career‡
2005 India U-17 3 (5)
2006–2007 India U-19 8 (5)
2005– India 61 (52)
Medal record
Representing  India
SAFF Women's Championship
Winner 2010 Bangladesh
Winner 2014 Pakistan
Winner 2016 India
South Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 2010 Bangladesh

Team

Gold medal – first place 2016 India Team
Gold medal – first place 2019 Nepal Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 1 October 2021
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 24 September 2023

Club career

Born in Manipur, Devi grew up playing the game with mainly boys.[1] She was a part of the Manipur U-19 team that took part in the Under-19 Women's Championship in Assam in 2002. After the tournament she was declared the best player of the tournament.[1] She was awarded the same title the next year in 2003.[1] She also earned top-scorer awards at the under-17 level for her state.[1] Eventually, Devi went on to represent the Manipur Senior Women's Football Team in the Senior Women's National Football Championship.[2] She was very influential in her state, winning the women's football championship in 2014, scoring a brace as Manipur defeated Odisha in the final 3–1.[3] This was Manipur's first championship since 2010 and their 17th overall. While playing with Manipur, Devi was teammates with India captain and AIFF Women's Player of Year, Oinam Bembem Devi.[3] She finished the tournament scoring 29 goals in seven matches.[1]

During the 2015 National Games of India, Devi represented her state as they won the gold medal. She scored the equalizer in the final against Odisha to make it 1–1 at the Corporation Stadium. The team went on to win the match 4–2 on penalties.[4]

In 2014, Devi signed a contract with New Radiant WSC[5] of Maldives in the FAM Women's Football Championship alongside players Oinam Bembem Devi and Lako Phuti Bhutia.

She played inaugural season of Indian Women's League 2016–17 with Manipur Police Sports Club in qualifying round and in Final Round played with Eastern Sporting Union. In 2017–18 IWL 2nd season she joined KRYPHSA and in 2018–19 IWL 3rd season she re-joined Manipur Police Sports Club.

In January 2020, Devi signed a professional contract of 18 months with Scottish Women's Premier League club Rangers, making her one of the few Indian women to become a professional footballer abroad.[6][7] On 6 December 2020, she became the first Indian woman to score in a professional football league in Europe by netting for the Rangers, as they won against Motherwell by 9–0.[8] An ankle injury ruled her out for the rest of the matches and she later parted ways with the club.

In December 2022, Devi moved to Spain along with Elangbam Panthoi Chanu, and underwent training cum trial stint at Spanish Segunda Federación club Málaga.[9]

In 2023, she signed with Indian Women's League debutant Odisha WFC.[10]

International career

Devi's first tournament with the national team was at the under-17 level in 2005.[1] She has represented India at the senior level since 2005.[11] She also represented the India women's under-19 side in 2006 and 2007.[12][13] She was a part of the India team that took part in the first women's SAFF Championship in 2010.[14] On 13 December 2010 she scored five goals in India's opening match of the tournament against Bhutan as India won 18–0.[15] India went on to win the tournament, defeating Nepal 1–0.[16] She scored total 8 goals in 5 matches.

Despite being a part of the 2010 winning team, Devi was not included in the India squad that won the tournament again in 2012.[17] She did return to the team for the 2014 AFC Women's Asian Cup qualifiers in May 2013 but India failed to qualify.[18]

On 27 October 2014, it was announced that Devi was selected into the India squad that was to participate in the 2014 SAFF Women's Championship, her first SAFF Championship since 2010.[19] She started the tournament in fantastic form as she scored four goals in the opening match against Maldives.[20] Her form continued into the next match against Bangladesh as she scored a brace in a 5–1 victory for India.[21][22] Devi then scored five more goals in the final group stage match against Afghanistan on 17 November.[23][24] She finished the group stage with eleven goals from three matches.[25]

During the semi-final against Sri Lanka Devi scored only once in a 5–0 thrashing.[26] However, in the final, Devi managed to find the net four times as India defeated Nepal 6–0 to claim their third straight SAFF Championship crown.[27][28]

Devi finished the 2014 SAFF Championship with sixteen goals in only five matches.[2] Due to her performance in the tournament, Devi was awarded the Women's Player of the Year award by the All India Football Federation.[2] Also awarded in the next year 2015 Indian Women's Player of the Year. In 2016 South Asian Games she scored 3 goals in 5 matches. She also captained India women's national football team in 2016 SAFF Women's Championship. She also clinched the title first time as a captain.

Personal life

While a semi-professional footballer in India, Devi also worked as a policewoman for the Manipur Police. She was promoted to Inspector rank following her impressive performance in football for Rangers.[1] She completed her education at the Oinam Thambal Marik College.[1]

Career statistics
As of 1 November 2020
Appearances and Goals by year
YearAppsGoals
2010 5 10
2011 3 3
2012 0 0
2013 4 0
2014 8 12
2015 2 0
2016 7 3
2017 7 1
2018 3 4
2019 9 5
Total4538

International goals
Scores and results list India's goal tally first.
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.18 March 2011Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka, Bangladesh Bangladesh1–03–02012 Summer Olympics qualification
2.2–0
3.3–0
4.13 November 2014Jinnah Sports Stadium, Islamabad, Pakistan Maldives1–08–02014 SAFF Women's Championship
5.2–0
6.4–0
7.5–0
8.15 November 2014 Bangladesh3–15–1
9.5–1
10.17 November 2014 Afghanistan2–012–0
11.4–0
12.6–0
13.7–0
14.11–0
15.19 November 2014 Sri Lanka2–05–0
16.21 November 2014   Nepal2–06–0
17.3–0
18.5–0
19.6–0
20.13 February 2016Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Shillong, India Bangladesh2–05–12016 South Asian Games
21.5–1
22.15 February 2016   Nepal3–04–0
23.7 April 2017Kim Il-sung Stadium, Pyongyang, North Korea Uzbekistan1–41–72018 AFC Women's Asian Cup qualification
24.29 August 2019Yakkasary Stadium, Tashkent, Uzbekistan Uzbekistan1–01–5Friendly
25.3 December 2019Pokhara Rangasala, Pokhara, Nepal Maldives2–05–02019 South Asian Games
26.3–0
27.5 December 2019 Sri Lanka6–06–0
28.7 December 2019   Nepal1–01–0
29.9 December 2019   Nepal1–02–0
30.2–0

Honours

India

Eastern Sporting Union

Manipur

New Radiant WSC

Individual

See also

References
  1. Yen, Samarjit (3 January 2015). "AIFF's Footballer of the year: Ng Bala Devi". IFP.co.in. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  2. "International Women's Day Special: Interview with Indian women's football team striker Ngangom Bala Devi". SportsKeeda. 8 March 2015. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  3. "It's title No. 17 for Manipur women". The Hindu. 13 May 2014. Archived from the original on 19 June 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  4. "Manipur clinch 4 gold, 1 silver and 3 bronze medals Manipur ranked at 7th position on the 10th day". E-Pao. 10 February 2015. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  5. Cyriac, Biju Babu (30 January 2020). "Bala Devi who earlier played in Maldives for New Radiant sports club". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. The Times of India. Archived from the original on 23 May 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  6. "Rangers Sign Indian International Bala Devi". Rangers Football Club. 29 January 2020. Archived from the original on 12 May 2020. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  7. Kulkarni, Abhijeet (27 April 2020). "An Indian footballer in Europe: Before Bala Devi, there was Sujata Kar and a huge lost opportunity". scroll.in. Scroll. Archived from the original on 2 May 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  8. "Bala Devi becomes first Indian woman footballer to score in Europe". Goal.com. 6 December 2020. Archived from the original on 8 December 2020. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  9. Mergulhao, Marcus (4 January 2023). "Bala sets sights on Spain's top division". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Panaji: The Times of India. TNN. Archived from the original on 3 January 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  10. "IWL: Tough battle awaits for debutants Churchill Brothers". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Goa: The Times of India. TNN. 24 April 2023. Archived from the original on 24 April 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  11. "Football Squad". Tribune India. 14 June 2005. Archived from the original on 2 October 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
  12. "Bala Devi Ready for 2018 Asian Women's Championships qualifiers". Archived from the original on 2 April 2017. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
  13. "Indian soccer eves to face Kyrgyzstan". Tribune India. 4 March 2006. Archived from the original on 22 December 2016. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  14. "Team India announced for Women's SAFF Cup". Arunfoot. 9 December 2010. Archived from the original on 2 July 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  15. "Women's SAFF Cup: India hammer Bhutan". Arunfoot. 14 December 2010. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  16. "India edge Nepal to win SAFF Women's Championship". Dawn. 23 December 2010. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  17. Madaan, Sachin (8 September 2012). "Indian Football: Its The Ladies Time To Shine Now As SAFF Women's Championship 2012 Gets Underway". The Hard Tackle. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  18. "India squad announced for Women's Asian Cup qualifiers". Times of India. 12 May 2013. Archived from the original on 2 April 2021. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  19. "22-member Squad announced for SAFF Women's Championship". The All India Football Federation. 27 October 2014. Archived from the original on 28 February 2017. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  20. Jabbar Faisal, Abdul (14 November 2014). "India crush Maldives 8-0, Bangladesh outplay Afghanistan 6-1". Daily Times. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  21. "Indian eves thrash Bangladesh 5-1 SAFF Football Championship". Times of India. 15 November 2014. Archived from the original on 4 September 2022. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  22. Mohsin Ali (16 November 2014). "Ngangom India rout Bangladesh 5-1". The Nation (Pakistan). Archived from the original on 19 November 2014. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  23. "Ngangom sparkles in India's 12-0 rout over Afghans". Awaz.tv. 18 November 2014. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  24. Mohsin Ali (18 November 2014). "Ngangom sparkles in India's 12-0 rout over Afghans". The Nation (Pakistan). Archived from the original on 19 November 2014. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  25. Kashif Abbasi (18 November 2014). "We are enjoying in Pakistan, says Indian footballer". Dawn.com. Archived from the original on 23 November 2014. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  26. Abbasi, Kashif (20 November 2014). "Indian women close in on hat-trick of SAFF crowns". Dawn. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  27. "India women thrash Nepal 6-0 to win SAFF football championship". Times of India. 21 November 2014. Archived from the original on 25 November 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  28. "Breaking News: India Clinch 3rd SAFF Championship Beating Nepal". GoalNepal.com. 21 November 2014. Archived from the original on 2 February 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  29. "South Asian Games: Bala Devi grabs brace as India mauls Maldives 5–0". Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  30. "Indian women's football team trounces Sri Lanka 6–0 in South Asian Games". Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  31. Yen, Samarjit (2 January 2015). "AIFF`S Women Footballer Of The Year: Ng Bala". Kangla Online. Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
  32. "Orissa runenrs-up". Orisports. 16 March 2008. Archived from the original on 1 October 2022. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
  33. "Manipur's monopoly continues". Sportstar. 28 March 2009. Archived from the original on 30 August 2022. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  34. "National Games 2022, October 10 HIGHLIGHTS: Manipur wins women's football gold; Tamil Nadu tops Group A in men's volleyball". Sportstar. 10 October 2022. Archived from the original on 28 October 2022. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  35. "RISING STUDENT CLUB CROWNED CHAMPIONS OF HERO IWL". 14 April 2018. Archived from the original on 6 February 2019. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  36. "Bala Devi, Manisha Kalyan named winners of annual AIFF Awards". www.the-aiff.com. Archived from the original on 22 July 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.

Further reading
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