Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Friday felicitated international football player Ngangom Bala Devi as inspector of Manipur Police at CM's Secretariat, Imphal. Bala was appointed as a constable in Manipur Police in 2010.
The chief minister also felicitated Panthoi Chanu, Goalkeeper of the National Football Team on winning Best Goalkeeper of the year and Emerging Player of the year. Bala and Chanu are presently undergoing invitational trial and training at Marbella, Spain.
"International football player Ngangom Bala Devi was honored by appointing to the post of Manipur Police Inspector while goalkeeper of the Indian football team Elangbam Panthoi Chanu was felicitated today. The state government has been honoring the state athletes, sports players and Olympians for bringing glory to the nation and the state," CM Biren wrote in a Facebook post.
Ngangom Bala Devi is the star forward for the Indian Women team. She represented Manipur Police Sports Club in several leagues and tournaments organised by All Manipur Football Association (AMFA).
Bala was awarded All India Football Federation women footballer of the year in 2014, 2015 and 2020 and she is the lone female footballer in the country to have played for foreign football clubs.
She started representing the country in 2005 and continues to contribute to the country. She led the Indian women team as a captain from 2015-2018. Bala is the only player to have signed an 18-month contract with Rangers FC and the contract was extended for another six months.
