Ngangom Bala Devi - A forerunner for many

Perhaps Indian women are out to prove again and again that they do not need a special Women’s Day for accounting their achievements.

- GP CAPT ACHCHYUT KUMAR

In fact, almost every week, the newspapers have something to report about what our Indian girls and women are achieving at the international platform. The woman cricketer, Harmanpreet Kaur, wrote a new chapter in women’s sports when she was extended a contract to play T20 cricket in Australia. Soon, Smriti Mandhana, another woman cricketer, added another page to the same chapter.

Now, yet another new chapter has been added with a lady footballer who represents India, the Manipur State and the Manipur Police Sports Club has been contracted by a Scottish Club to play for the club. Ngangom Bala Devi is a forward who is now on an 18 month contract with Rangers Football Club to play in the Scottish Women’s Premier League. While age may not be theoretically in favour of Bala Devi, her inspiration is none other than Mary Kom who despite her age and being the mother of three children has added one more world championship crown to her tally of many other honours.