Oinam Bembem Devi

Oinam Bembem Devi known as "Durga of Indian Football" is an Indian female footballer. Coming from Manipur, Oinam Devi is popularly considered a hardworking midfielder, who first came into fame at the national level while playing for the Manipur Under-13 team in a sub-junior tournament. She later made her debut in the national team at the Asian Women's Championships at the age of 15 years. At the national level, Bembem has been a regular member of the Manipur State Women’s Football Team since 1993. She was appointed the captain for the state team since the 32nd National Games, where she led her state to victory in Hyderabad. Wearing no. 6 jersey for the nation, Devi was also an integral part and mastermind for the country's victory in five major international tournaments. Bembem helped India carve out its place as a regional superpower in an international career spanning almost two decades. However, opportunities to face quality opponents outside the subcontinent dried up over time. The 39-year-old also tried her hand in foreign leagues, playing for Maldivian football club New Radiant and guiding them to a historic league win in her debut. She is currently involved in spreading awareness about women's football in India.

Major Achievements -

• Bembem made her international debut against Guam at the Asian Women's Championship at the age of 15.
• She won the title of AIFF Woman Footballer of the Year in 2001 and 2013.
• She was given an armband of the Indian contingent in the 2003 AFC qualifying competition in Thailand.
• Oinam was the captain of the Indian football team which emerged as a winner in the South Asian Games of 2010, and also the SAFF Women's Championship in 2012.
• In June 2014, Maldivian football club New Radiant signed Devi. With her outstanding performance, the New Radiant WSC won the league with a historic 5–1 win over MNDF. Bembem finished as the tournament's top scorer with 6 goals in only 3 matches and awarded the Player of the Tournament for her outstanding performance.
• In 2017, she was honoured with the Arjuna Award by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
• In 2018, she was assigned as an assistant coach for India's U17 women's team.