This is the story of a young girl from Imphai, Manipur, who defied the norms of her society and dared to dream big. Loitongbam Ashalata Devi's journey from a small-town girl to Indian Woman Football Team Captain is a story of unbreakable spirit and passion for a sport she believed in. Her story is not just one of sporting excellence, but a shining example of what can be achieved through sheer determination and resilience.
The Rise to Prominence
Born into a modest family, Ashalata's tryst with football began at the age of thirteen, when she watched with fascination as boys played the beautiful game on playgrounds. Undeterred by the absence of a girls' team at her school, she seized the opportunity to initiate one, igniting a spark that would soon blaze into a roaring fire of ambition and determination.
Ashalata's path to football stardom has its own challenges. Despite facing opposition from her family, who viewed football as a 'childish hobby', she didn't give up on her dream and believed in her abilities. Financial constraints and societal norms remained, but Ashalata's resolve remained unbroken, her passion burning brighter with each obstacle overcome.
In 2008, Ashalata's talent caught the eye of selectors, earning her a spot on the Under-17 women's national football team. Under the guidance of Coach Chaoba Devi, she sharpened her skills and rose through the ranks. Despite setbacks, including a career-threatening injury in 2016, Ashalata's determination saw her bounce back stronger, solidifying her status as a powerful player in Indian football and resulting in her appointment as captain of the Indian Women’s Football Team in 2018.
Overcoming Challenges
Despite being the captain of the Indian national women’s football team and a crucial player for Gokulam Kerala FC, her journey is far from glamorous. She juggles her passion for football with the demands of a day job in the operating department of the railways, highlighting the challenges faced by athletes balancing professional careers with their sporting aspirations. However, these obstacles have only fueled her determination to prove her critics wrong, displaying her strength and commitment to the sport she loves.
Leading by Example
Manipur-based Loitongbam Ashalata Devi was nominated for the 2019 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Player of the Year (Women) award. The 31-year-old footballer from Imphal is the captain of the Indian women’s football team. She is named among the three nominees in the women's category at the AFC Annual Awards, held in Hong Kong in December 2019.
“This really is like a dream come true for me. You never really think of these milestones when you are growing up, but I'm very happy that the hard work that I've put in over the years has gotten recognition on the continental level,” 26-year-old Ashalata said to TOI.
The centre-back player added, “I would like to thank our coaches Maymol Rocky and Chaoba Devi for giving me the right guidance and motivation over the years. Also, the credit goes to my amazing teammates. It is an absolute privilege to lead them out onto the pitch every single match.”
Praising Ashalata's achievement, Head coach Maymol Rocky said, “She really deserves this and it is a testament to the hard work put in by her over the years. I am really happy for her and for the whole team as well, who have been highlighted at continental level with this nomination.”
The year 2019 remained faithful to Ashalata Devi, as the captain played an instrumental role in helping team India win the 2019 South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship title earlier in 2019. The exploiter also led her team in the Indian Women’s League, the Sethu FC, and emerged victorious in the league. Ashalata has also led India to the Olympic 2020 Qualifiers Round 2. In 2019, she also created history by becoming the first-ever women's football captain to lead India past the first round of Olympic qualifiers.
Ashalata, who made her debut in 2011 as an 18-year-old, is hopeful that this level of performance will generate interest in women's football back home.
“This really is like a dream come true for me. You never really think of these milestones when you are growing up but I'm very happy that the hard work that I've put in over the years has got recognition on the continental level,” remarked 31-year-old Ashalata.
Notably, the talented defender Ashalata Devi won the Indian Women’s Player of the Year for 2018-19 season. She is also the second Indian woman footballer to represent a foreign team, as she played for New Radiant, a Maldives-based women’s football club, in 2015.
Ashalata has come a long way, as she was once playing under the mentorship of Bembem Devi and now leads a team on her own. Besides her on-field accomplishments, Ashalataa supported her teammates during the Indian Women’s League despite ethnic tensions in Manipur in 2023
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