Ashalata Devi Loitongbam

Ashalata Devi Loitongbam (, born 3 July 1993) is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a defender for the Indian Women's League club East Bengal and the India women's national team. Devi is considered one of the finest defenders from Asia and is the first women's footballer to play 100 matches for the Indian national team.

Early life

Devi was born in Imphal, Manipur. She started playing football at the age of 13.

Club career

New Radiant

In 2015, Devi signed for the Dhivehi Women's Premier League franchise New Radiant W.S.C. She thus became the second Indian to play for a club outside India after Bembem Devi. She won the league with the club in that particular season.

Rising Student Club

In 2016, Devi signed for the newly formed Rising Student Club to feature in the first edition of the Indian Women's League.

KRYPHSA

In 2017, Devi joined the Indian Women's League club KRYPHSA F.C. for the 2017Ã¢ÂÂ18 Indian Women's League season.

Sethu

In 2018, Devi transferred to Tamil Nadu based club Sethu FC which participates in the Indian Women's League. In the 2018Ã¢ÂÂ19 Indian Women's League season, Sethu won the tournament by defeating Manipur Police SC 1Ã¢ÂÂ3 in the finals, where Devi won her maiden Indian Women's League trophy.

International career

In 2008 at the age of 15, Devi was called-up for India U17. Devi was called-up for the senior team and debuted in the year 2011. She served as the captain of the India women's national football team from 2018 till 2024. Devi played a pivotal role in India's success in qualifying for the 2021 Olympics (supposed to be held in 2020) which is going to be held in Tokyo. Devi has several achievements with the national team. Devi was a part of the Indian tea that won two South Asian Games gold medals in 2016 and 2019 and was also part of the team that won the SAFF Women's Championship four times consecutively, in 2012, 2014, 2016 and finally in 2019. She was nominated by AFC for the women's player of the year in 2019 and was selected as the AIFF women's player of the year for her performance in the 2018Ã¢ÂÂ19 campaign.