Oinam Bembem Devi (born 4 April 1980) is an Indian football coach and former footballer from Manipur.[2] In 2017, she was honoured with the Arjuna Award by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.[3] She was nicknamed the Durga of Indian Football and is currently involved in spreading awareness about Women's football in India.[4]
Oinam Bembem Devi is the recipient of India's highly prestigious award Padma Shri 2020.[5][6]
Devi began her career as a footballer in 1988 when she began training at the United Pioneers Club in Imphal.[1] In 1991, she was selected to represent the Manipur U-13 team in the sub-junior football tournament. Her performances in the tournament got noticed, and was signed up by Yawa Singjamei Leishangthem Lekai club, and two years later, by the Social Union Nascent (SUN) Club.[7]
At the national level, Devi is a regular member of the Manipur state football team for woman since the year 1993. She has been appointed the captain of her state team since the 32nd National Games held in Hyderabad, where she led her state to victory.[7]
On 9 June 2014, Maldivian football club New Radiant, announced the signing of Devi and another Indian youngster Lako Phuti Bhutia. Bembem Devi made her debut as a late 1st half substitute, in their match against Maldives police service on 11 June and her speed and skill were a constant threat to the opposition as Bembem provided two assists in her team's 4–0 win.[7]
In the match against defending champions Sun hotels and resorts, Bembem scored in both halves to help New Radiant WSC to a comfortable 4–0 win, securing them a spot in the semi-finals against Sun Hotels and Resorts. In the semi-finals, they defeated Sun hotels and resorts 5–1 and entered the final. The Final match was held on 21 June 2014 between New Radiant SC and Maldives National Defence Force. Bembem Devi scored in 9th and 26th minute of the match, to help New Radiant WSC achieve a historic 5–1 win over MNDF to win the league.[7]
Bembem Devi ended up as the top scorer of the tournament with 6 goals in just 3 matches. She also provided 4 assists and she was awarded the Player of The Tournament for her excellent performances.[7]
At the age of 15, Bembem made her international debut against Guam in the Asian Women's Championships.
The turning point in her career came at the 1996 Asian Games, where the Indian national team were drawn in a group alongside Japan and neighbours Nepal. They lost to Japan 1-0 and won against Nepal 1-0 to progress from the group with Japan. In round 2 they would be drawn in a tough group alongside the national teams of Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and North Korea. They lost all their matches but by then Oinam Bemben Devi had announced her arrival at the national stage.[7]
Before the 1997 AFC Cup in China, the Indian eve's team were sent to Germany for a month-long camp, where the national team players were trained by German coaches and played against German oppositions. The camp proved vital as the Indian team won 3-0 against Hong-Kong, Japan the top ranked team in women’ s football, defeated India 1-0 and in their final group game encounter India thrashed Guam 10-0.[7]
She played her last game on 15 February against Nepal, at the 12th South Asian Games in Shillong.[8] She finished her international career with 82 caps.[9]
Devi was appointed as manager of Eastern Sporting Union in 2017 Indian Women's League final rounds. She also became the first manager of Indian Women's League history to claim the tournament title also as a player. In 2018, she was assigned as the assistant coach for the India U17 women's team.[10]
Padma Shri: 2020
