Indian footballer Bala Devi presents running shoes to Manipur CM

Our Correspondent
Imphal, July 29 (EMN): India’s ace footballer, Ngangom Bala Devi today gifted a pair of running shoes to Manipur Chief Minister, Nongthombam Biren Singh, a former footballer turned politician at the latter’s secretariat in Imphal.

Informing this in a Facebook post on Wednesday, Chief Minister Biren Singh wrote, “India’s ace footballer Bala Devi called on me at my office today. Bala, who currently plays for Rangers Women’s FC in Scotland, was recently named as All India Football Federation (AIFF) Women’s Footballer of the Year 2020-21”.

“Encouraging me to keep myself fit during this challenging time, Bala also gifted me a pair of running shoes. Thank you for such a warm gesture,” he added.

Bala, who currently plays for Rangers Women’s FC in Scotland was recently named as All India Football Federation (AIFF) Women’s Footballer of the Year 2020-21.

Striker Bala Devi, a resident of Irengbam, a small village in Manipur’s Bishnupur district made history, when she became the first Indian woman to become a professional footballer and signed a contract with Scotland’s Rangers football club in February last year.

Sharing a similar sentiment, the Manipur Police Sports Club (MPSC) congratulated Ngangom Bala. She played for MPSC and worked as a police officer for the Manipur Police department until she joined Rangers FC.

Ngangom Bala also received the award two years in a row in 2014 and 2015.

The club also wished her success in all her endeavours and expressed hope that she would continue to inspire, motivate and encourage young women footballers of the country and the state.