Bend it like Devi

Though it has only been a few days since Ngangom Bala Devi arrived in Glasgow, Scotland, she has already settled in. The 29-year-old moved to the Scottish city to join the Rangers Football Club, becoming the first Indian woman to sign a contract to play for a professional team abroad. The staff and other players have all been welcoming and it has been comfortable, says Devi, on the phone from Glasgow. Training has already begun.

When the news of the signingfacilitated by Bengaluru FCwas announced at the end of January, it sent ripples of excitement through India’s football firmament. I am thrilled, I have created history for my country, she says.

Two-time national player of the year, Devi has been a key figure on the Indian team, parleying a childhood passion into a professional success story. Playing both as a striker and an attacking midfielder since she started out in 2002, Devi has scored 52 goals in 58 appearances with the national side. As a child, it was always my dream to play professionally, she says. I always hoped to get an opportunity to play in Europe.

Devi is from Manipur, a state awash with footballing talentthe women’s team has won the national championship 20 out of 25 times. Devi’s love for football grew as she played with the neighbourhood boys as a child in Manipur’s Bishnupur district. I love the game, she says. It’s about skill, strategy and physicality. Her favourites include US captain Megan Rapinoe, Argentine superstar Lionel Messi and the Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo.

Her current success comes despite the fact that India is ranked 57 globally out of 155 nations and though she admits there have been challenges, things are improving. Since 2017, our federation has been working a lot and we have been getting more exposure and more chances to play in Europe, she says.

Devi’s contract with the Rangers will last for 18 months, with the possibility of an extension. Hopefully, this will also be a motivation for others, and they can do even better, she says. I just want to tell all youngsters not to ever give up, to keep trying.

read the full story about Bend it like Devi

#theheadlines #breakingnews #headlinenews #newstoday #latestnews #aajtak #ndtv #timesofindia #indiannews