Imphal: Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh on Friday rewarded Bala Devi, the star player of the Indian women’s national team as an Inspector of Manipur Police.
Devi was appointed as a constable of Manipur Police in 2010. The 32-year-old footballer is the recipient of AIFF ‘Women’s Player of the Year’ award three times (2014, 2015, 2020-21).
So far, Bala Devi has scored 52 goals for India, the highest number in India.
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.
On December 6, 2020, she became the first Indian woman to score goal in a professional football league in Europe by netting for the Rangers, as they won against Motherwell by 9–0.
In December 2022, Devi moved to Spain along with Elangbam Panthoi Chanu, and underwent training cum trial stint at Spanish Segunda Federación club Málaga
Fellow player and Manipuri Panthoi Chanu, the goalkeeper of the Indian women team, was also felicitated by Singh.
