India’s women cricketers have made history by lifting their first World Cup, marking a proud moment for the country. In football, too, women athletes have been shaping a story of persistence and steady growth over the years.
In the past few decades, women’s football in India has grown more organised and competitive. More tournaments, structured training, and opportunities to play abroad are giving athletes the exposure they long lacked. The progress may have come in phases, but each generation has added its own strength to the story.
Shanti Mallick: India’s First Woman Footballer to Win the Arjuna Award
From 1975 to 1991, women’s football in India was managed by the Women’s Football Federation of India (WFFI) under the Asian Ladies’ Football Confederation (ALFC). Since the ALFC wasn’t recognised by FIFA or the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), many of the matches played by the national team were never made official. Even so, India was among Asia’s top teams then, finishing runners-up in the 1979 and 1983 AFC Women’s Championships and third in 1981.
Captain Shanti Mallick was the standout player of that period. A gifted scorer and respected leader, she was known for her skill and discipline and was never booked once in her entire career. The Bengal footballer was also a state-level cricketer, hockey player, and national handball champion. Although many of her achievements didn’t enter official records, Mallick became the first Indian woman footballer to receive the Arjuna Award in 1983, a landmark for the sport.
Oinam Bembem Devi: First Woman in Indian Football to Receive the Padma Shri
From Manipur came Oinam Bembem Devi, who joined the senior national team at 15 and represented India for 21 years before retiring in 2016. She played 85 matches, scored 32 goals, and led India to three consecutive South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Cup titles (2010, 2012, 2014) and two South Asian Games gold medals (2010, 2016).
She was the All India Football Federation (AIFF’s) first-ever Women’s Player of the Year in 2001 and won the award again in 2013. In 2017, she became the second woman footballer after Mallick to receive the Arjuna Award and later the first to be honoured with the Padma Shri in 2020.
Bembem Devi later turned coach, guiding Eastern Sporting Union to the Indian Women’s League title in 2017 and continues to work with youth teams.
Bala Devi: India’s First Woman to Score 50 International Goals
From humble beginnings in Manipur, Bala Devi has been one of the leading names in Indian women’s football. Often called the goal machine of Indian football, she became the first Indian woman to score 50 international goals during the 2024 SAFF Women’s Championship in Nepal, in a match against Pakistan. She also signed with Rangers FC in Scotland and with over 50 goals to her name, Bala remains one of India’s most accomplished forwards.
Manisha Kalyan: The First Indian to Score in the UEFA Women’s Champions League
Manisha Kalyan represents a fresh chapter in Indian football. At just 20, she became the first Indian to score in the UEFA Women’s Champions League while playing for Apollon Ladies FC in Cyprus. She has won both the AIFF Women’s Emerging Footballer of the Year (2020–21) and Player of the Year (2022–23), showing how the game continues to evolve.
Aditi Chauhan: The First Indian Woman to Play Professionally in England
Aditi Chauhan made history as the first Indian woman to play professionally in England with West Ham United Ladies in 2015. Between 2011 and 2023, she earned 57 caps and won three SAFF Championships. Her calm presence and sharp reflexes made her one of India’s most dependable goalkeepers.
Women’s football in India has steadily grown over the years, shaped by players who worked hard to push the game forward. From pioneers like Shanti Mallick and Bembem Devi to the new generation led by Bala Devi, Ashalata Devi, and Manisha Kalyan, each has added strength to the sport’s journey.
