Ashalata Devi is an Indian professional football player who captained the India women’s national team and plays defence for the Indian Women’s League side East Bengal as per her biography
The seasoned Indian football player Ashalata Devi is about to accomplish a remarkable milestone as she will be the first woman to earn 100 caps for her country.
Ashalata Devi will become indisputable as one of the best football players in the history of the nation if she achieves this milestone in Thursday’s SAFF Championship opener against Pakistan. Devi has been a constant in the Indian women’s national team for more than ten years. She has demonstrated her leadership, skill, and passion on the field while playing for India.
Who is India woman footballer Loitongbam Ashalata Devi, biography, age, family, hometown birth place, position and stats
Ashalata Devi was born on July 3, 1993 in Imphal, Manipur. At thirteen years old, she began playing football and is a defender who currently captains the India women’s football team.
The 31 year old India captain was part of the Gokulam Kerala FC set-up that won the Indian Women’s League title in 2023.
“When I just started off, there were a lot of struggles. I didn’t have support from my family who felt that this game is not for girls as they were more worried about getting me married. I was punished, so stopped playing for a few months but slowly started playing again.
“Ever since I got selected in the India U-17 team, my mother realised that I can grow in the sport and started supporting me unconditionally. Now she wants me to play at the highest level and not think about retirement anytime soon,” Ashalata had said in an interview while talking about how her parents didn’t initially support her decision to play football.
Ashalata Devi career
In 2011, Ashlata Devi made her senior squad debut after being called up. She now leads the India women’s national football team as captain. Devi was crucial to India’s achievement in earning a spot in the Tokyo Olympics of 2021.
Devi has made numerous contributions to the national squad. Devi participated in the Indian tea team that took home two gold medals from the 2016 South Asian Games.
Ashlata Devi joined New Radiant W.S.C., a Dhivehi Women’s Premier League team, in 2015.After Bembem Devi, she became the second Indian player to play for a club outside of India. In that specific season, she and the team won the league.
Ashalata Devi speaks ahead of her 100th game! ✨
Here’s what she has to say about this incredible milestone.🇮🇳#IndianFootball ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/J8MB7Kbxaq
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) October 16, 2024
Devi signed up to be included in the inaugural Indian Women’s League edition in 2016 as a member of the newly established Rising Student Club. Devi signed on with KRYPHSA F.C. in 2017 in preparation for the 2017–18 Indian Women’s League season.
Devi moved to the Indian Women’s League team Sethu FC, situated in Tamil Nadu, in 2018. Sethu emerged victorious in the Indian Women’s League season 2018–19, defeating Manipur Police SC 1-3 in the championship match.
She was chosen as the AIFF women’s player of the year for her play in the 2018–19 season, and she was nominated by the AFC for the women’s player of the year in 2019.