Biography
Who is Ngangom Bala Devi?
Early life and football beginnings
Ngangom Bala Devi was born in Irengbam village within the Bishnupur district of Manipur. Growing up in this region, she spent much of her youth playing football alongside boys. This early experience helped shape her skills as a competitive athlete in the sport.
Her competitive path began in earnest when she joined the Manipur U-19 team. In 2002, she participated in the Under-19 Women's Championship held in Assam. Her performance during that tournament was exceptional, leading to her being named the best player of the competition. She repeated this achievement by winning the same title again in 2003.
Club career and achievements
At the youth level, she earned top-scorer honors representing her state in under-17 competitions. She eventually moved up to play for the Manipur Senior Women's Football Team in the Rajmata Jijabai Trophy. During the 2014 season, she helped Manipur win the women's football championship by scoring two goals in the final against Odisha.
Ngangom Bala Devi has played for several different clubs throughout her career. She signed with New Radiant WSC in the Maldives in 2014. Later, she played for Manipur Police Sports Club and Eastern Sporting Union during the inaugural Indian Women's League seasons. She also spent time with KRYPHSA and joined Odisha WFC in 2023.
International career highlights
She has been a member of the India national team since 2005, starting with the under-17 squad. She also represented the national under-19 side in both 2006 and 2007. Her senior international career saw significant success, particularly during the 2010 SAFF Championship where she scored five goals in a single match against Bhutan.
During the 2014 SAFF Women's Championship, she displayed strong scoring ability. She scored eleven goals during the group stage alone, including a brace against Bangladesh. In the final match against Nepal, she netted four goals to secure a 6-0 victory and the championship title. Her efforts earned her the AIFF Women's Player of the Year award in 2014.
Personal life and education
Ngangom Bala Devi attended Oinam Thambal Marik College to complete her education. Alongside her football career in India, she served as a policewoman for the Manipur Police. Her professional status within the force changed following her successful tenure playing for the Rangers club in Scotland.
She was eventually promoted to the rank of Inspector due to her footballing achievements. This dual career path allowed her to balance her duties in law enforcement with her life as a professional athlete. She remains a significant figure in the sporting community of Manipur.
Birthday and age
Ngangom Bala Devi was born on February 2, 1990, which makes Ngangom 36 years old today. That birthday falls under the Aquarius sign. Ngangom shares the date with 32 other famous people.
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