Oinam Bembem Devi
{{short description|Indian footballer|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Meitei name|Oinam|Bembem|Devi}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2015}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Bembem Devi
| fullname = Oinam Bembem Devi
| image = The President, Shri Ram Nath Kovind presenting the Arjuna Award, 2017 to Ms. Oinam Bembem Devi for Football, in a glittering ceremony, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on August 29, 2017.jpg
| caption = The President, Ram Nath Kovind presenting the Arjuna Award to Bembem Devi, August 29, 2017.
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1980|04|4|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Imphal, Manipur, India
| height = {{height|ft=5|in=2}}
| position = Midfielder
| currentclub =
| clubnumber =
| clubs1 = Manipur
| years1 =
| caps1 =
| goals1 =
| clubs2 = New Radiant
| years2 = 2014–2015
| caps2 = 3
| goals2 = 6
| clubs3 = Eastern Sporting Union
| years3 = 2016–2017
| caps3 = 9
| goals3 = 3
| nationalteam1 = India
| nationalyears1 = 1995–2016
| nationalcaps1 = 82
| nationalgoals1 = 18
| medaltemplates =
{{Medal|Country|{{fbw|IND}}}}
{{Medal|Competition |SAFF Women's Championship }}
{{Medal|W | 2010 Bangladesh|}}
{{Medal|W | 2012 Sri Lanka|}}
{{Medal|W | 2014 Pakistan|}}
{{Medal|Competition | South Asian Games }}
{{Medal|Gold | 2010 Bangladesh | Team}}
{{Medal|Gold | 2016 India | Team }}
| manageryears1 = 2016–2018
| managerclubs1 = Eastern Sporting Union
| manageryears2 = 2018
| managerclubs2 = India Women U17 (assistant)
| manageryears3 = 2019–
| managerclubs3 = Manipur Police
| manageryears4 = 2021–
| managerclubs4 = Manipur Women
}}
Oinam Bembem Devi (born 4 April 1980) is an Indian football coach and former footballer from Manipur.{{cite web|url=https://www.the-aiff.com/article/indian-football-down-the-years-looking-back-at-the-glorious-moments#|title=Indian Football Down the Years: Looking back at the glorious moments|first=AIFF|last=Media Team|website=www.the-aiff.com|publisher=All India Football Federation|language=en|trans-title=|location=New Delhi|agency=|date=15 August 2022|access-date=20 October 2022|archive-date=21 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220921011335/https://www.the-aiff.com/article/indian-football-down-the-years-looking-back-at-the-glorious-moments}} In 2017, she was honoured with the Arjuna Award by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.{{cite web|url=https://sports.ndtv.com/football/i-dedicate-my-arjuna-award-to-the-women-of-india-Bembem-Devi-1740573|title=I Dedicate My Arjuna Award To The Women Of India: Bembem Devi|author=Joy Tirkey|date=22 August 2017|access-date=22 August 2017|archive-date=19 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819105036/https://sports.ndtv.com/football/i-dedicate-my-arjuna-award-to-the-women-of-india-Bembem-Devi-1740573|url-status=live}} She was nicknamed the Durga of Indian Football and is currently involved in spreading awareness about Women's football in India.{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/womens-football-star-Oinam-Bembem-Devi-wins-arjuna-award/12mcm3vpux9h812tnwadchh7ks|title=WOMEN'S FOOTBALL STAR OINAM BEMBEM DEVI WINS ARJUNA AWARD|date=20 August 2017|access-date=22 August 2017|archive-date=30 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170830062159/http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/womens-football-star-Oinam-Bembem-Devi-wins-arjuna-award/12mcm3vpux9h812tnwadchh7ks|url-status=live}}
Oinam Bembem Devi is the recipient of India's highly prestigious award Padma Shri 2020.{{cite web |title=Padma Awards 2020 Announced |url=https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=197647 |website=pib.gov.in |access-date=13 February 2020 |archive-date=1 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200201184851/https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=197647 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |author=The Hindu Net Desk |title=Full list of 2020 Padma awardees |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/full-list-of-2020-padma-awardees/article30656841.ece |work=The Hindu |date=26 January 2020 |language=en-IN |access-date=13 February 2020 |archive-date=29 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200229152750/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/full-list-of-2020-padma-awardees/article30656841.ece |url-status=live }}
Early life and club career
Devi began her career as a footballer in 1988 when she began training at the United Pioneers Club in Imphal.{{cite web|last1=Desai|first1=Shail|title=Bembem Devi: Indian football's unsung legend|date=29 October 2016|url=http://www.livemint.com/Sundayapp/62GqLmltmi29s0jMXdDr7I/Bembem-Devi-Indian-footballs-unsung-legend.html|publisher=Livemint|access-date=30 October 2016|archive-date=5 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305012852/http://www.livemint.com/Sundayapp/62GqLmltmi29s0jMXdDr7I/Bembem-Devi-Indian-footballs-unsung-legend.html|url-status=live}} 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.{{cite web|first=Boudhayan|last=Sarbajna|title=Oinam Bembem Devi's & Lako Phuti Bhutia's Foreign Stint Signals A Bright Future For Indian Women Football|url=http://www.thehardtackle.com/2014/oinam-bembem-devis-lako-phuti-bhutia-s-foreign-stint-signals-a-bright-future-for-indian-women-football/|work=The Hard Tackle|date=26 June 2014|access-date=20 July 2014|archive-date=16 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416051218/http://www.thehardtackle.com/2014/oinam-bembem-devis-lako-phuti-bhutia-s-foreign-stint-signals-a-bright-future-for-indian-women-football/|url-status=live}}
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.
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.
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.
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.
International career
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.
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.
She was given the armband of the Indian contingent in the AFC qualifying competition, held in Thailand in 2003. She was the captain of the Indian team that emerged winners at the 11th South Asian Games held in Bangladesh, in 2010 and the 2012 SAFF Women's Championship held in Sri Lanka in the year 2012.
She played her last game on 15 February against Nepal, at the 12th South Asian Games in Shillong.{{Cite web|url=http://www.catchnews.com/football-news/south-asian-games-2016-legendary-bembem-devi-set-for-final-football-match-of-career-1455446800.html|title=Football News, India Football News, Latest Football News Headlines | Today Football News | Catch News|access-date=15 February 2016|archive-date=8 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161108133537/http://www.catchnews.com/football-news/south-asian-games-2016-legendary-bembem-devi-set-for-final-football-match-of-career-1455446800.html|url-status=live}} She finished her international career with 82 caps.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/football/why-india-star-bala-devi-may-miss-the-first-woman-s-football-league/story-EFizCcOU52XVe2BQAChQFK.html|title=Why India star Bala Devi may miss the first woman's football league|work=-Hindustan Times |date=27 January 2017 |access-date=27 January 2017}}
Career statistics
{{Updated|15 February 2016}}
| class="wikitable sortable"
! colspan="3" |Appearances and Goals by year |
| Years
!Caps !Goals |
|---|
| 1995–2007
| | |
| 2010
|10 |4 |
| 2011
|6 |1 |
| 2012
|5 |5 |
| 2013
|3 |0 |
| 2014
|2 |2 |
| 2015
|2 |0 |
| 2016
|5 |0 |
| Total
!33 !12 |
As manager
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.{{cite web|title=The thrill of winning a match as a coach is immense– Bembem Devi|url=https://khelnow.com/news/article/saff-u15-championship-2018-bembem-devi-india-assistant-coach|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180811121626/https://khelnow.com/news/article/saff-u15-championship-2018-bembem-devi-india-assistant-coach|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 August 2018|work=AIFF|date=11 August 2018|access-date=15 September 2018}}
In the 2018–19 Indian Women's League season, she managed Manipur Police Sports Club.
Honours
=Player=
India
- South Asian Games Gold medal: 2010, 2016
- SAFF Women's Championship: 2010, 2012, 2014{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/sports/sport-others/list-of-athletes-recommended-for-arjuna-awards-4780670/|title=List of athletes recommended for Arjuna Awards|date=3 Aug 2017|access-date=26 Aug 2017|archive-date=19 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819105039/https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/sport-others/list-of-athletes-recommended-for-arjuna-awards-4780670/|url-status=live}}
Eastern Sporting Union
Manipur
=Manager=
Eastern Sporting Union
Manipur
=Individual=
- FAM Premier League Player of the Tournament: 2014–15
- AIFF Women's Player of the Year (2): 2001, 2013{{cite web|title=2013 AIFF Awards given away to Footballers in New Delhi|url=http://news.biharprabha.com/2014/02/2013-aiff-awards-given-away-to-footballers-in-new-delhi/|work=IANS|publisher=news.biharprabha.com|access-date=14 February 2014|archive-date=20 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141020085048/http://news.biharprabha.com/2014/02/2013-aiff-awards-given-away-to-footballers-in-new-delhi/|url-status=live}}
- Arjuna Award: 2017{{cite web|url=http://yas.nic.in/yasroot/awards/arjuna.htm#Football|title=LIST OF ARJUNA AWARD WINNERS - Football {{!}} Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071225221945/http://yas.nic.in/yasroot/awards/arjuna.htm#Football|archive-date=25 December 2007|access-date=25 December 2007|website=yas.nic.in|publisher=Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports}}{{cite web|title=List of Arjuna Awardees (1961–2018)|url=https://yas.nic.in/sites/default/files/LIST%20OF%20ARJUNA%20AWARDEES.docx%2061%20-%2017_0_0.pdf|publisher=Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (India)|access-date=12 September 2020|df=dmy-all|archive-date=18 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200718084523/https://yas.nic.in/sites/default/files/LIST%20OF%20ARJUNA%20AWARDEES.docx%2061%20-%2017_0_0.pdf}}
- 50px Padma Shri: 2020
See also
References
{{reflist}}
Bibliography
- {{cite book |last1=Kapadia |first1=Novy |year=2017|title=Barefoot to Boots: The Many Lives of Indian Football |publisher=Penguin Random House |isbn=978-0-143-42641-7 }}
- {{cite book|title=Soccer in South Asia: Empire, Nation, Diaspora|year=2001|publisher=Frank Cass Publishers|location=London, United Kingdom|isbn=978-0-7146-8170-2|page=33|last1=Dineo|first1=Paul|last2=Mills|first2=James|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=71JHZiiP3hoC|archive-date=25 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220725072732/https://books.google.co.in/books/about/Soccer_in_South_Asia.html?id=71JHZiiP3hoC&source=kp_book_description&redir_esc=y}}
- {{cite book |last1=Martinez| first1=Dolores |last2=Mukharji |first2=Projit B|year=2009|title=Football: From England to the World: The Many Lives of Indian Football |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nbzhAQAAQBAJ&q=kerala+footballer+in+Burma |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-138-88353-6 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702174505/https://books.google.co.in/books?id=nbzhAQAAQBAJ&dq=kerala+footballer+in+Burma&source=gbs_navlinks_s |archive-date=2 July 2022 }}
- {{cite web|url=https://www.the-aiff.com/article/royal-wahingdoh-girls-meet-their-role-models|date=11 February 2016|website=the-aiff.com|publisher=All India Football Federation|location=New Delhi|title=Royal Wahingdoh girls meet their role models|access-date=28 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240101154411/https://www.the-aiff.com/article/royal-wahingdoh-girls-meet-their-role-models|archive-date=1 January 2024}}
External links
- [http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=194298 Indian Express, Football Nationals]{{dead link|date=January 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20090425181034/http://kolkatafootball.com/bembem_devi.htm Bembem Devi profile]
- {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20160304041502/http://newradiantsc.com/v2/newsdetail.php?id=275 Two Indian players join Women's team]}}
{{India squad 2003 AFC Women's Championship}}
{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Sports}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Oinam}}
Category:Footballers from Imphal
Category:Indian women's footballers
Category:India women's international footballers
Category:Expatriate women's footballers in the Maldives
Category:New Radiant S.C. players
Category:Sportswomen from Manipur
Category:Footballers at the 1998 Asian Games
Category:Footballers at the 2014 Asian Games
Category:Women's association football midfielders
Category:21st-century Indian women
Category:21st-century Indian people
Category:Eastern Sporting Union players
Category:South Asian Games gold medalists for India
Category:Asian Games footballers for India
Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in sports
Category:South Asian Games medalists in football
Category:Indian expatriate women's footballers
Category:Indian expatriate sportspeople in the Maldives
Category:Indian football coaches
Category:Indian women's football managers