{{Short description|Indian footballer (born 1993)}} {{Western name order|Loitongbam Ashalata Devi}} {{Meitei name|Loitongbam|Ashalata|Devi}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2015}} {{Use Indian English|date=December 2015}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Ashalata Devi | image = | image_size = | fullname = Ashalata Devi Loitongbam | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1993|7|3}} | birth_place = Imphal, Manipur, India | height = | position = Defender | currentclub = East Bengal | clubnumber = 4 | years1 = | clubs1 = KRYPHSA | caps1 = | goals1 = | clubs2 = New Radiant | years2 = 2015 | caps2 = | goals2 = | clubs3 = Rising Student | years3 = 2016–2017 | caps3 = | goals3 = | years4 = 2017–2018 | clubs4 = KRYPHSA | caps4 = | goals4 = | years5 = 2018–2020 | clubs5 = Sethu | caps5 = 13 | goals5 = 1 | years6 = 2021–2024 | clubs6 = Gokulam Kerala | caps6 = 32 | goals6 = 4 | years7 = 2024– | clubs7 = East Bengal | caps7 = 14 | goals7 = 1 | nationalyears1 = 2008 | nationalteam1 = India U17 | nationalcaps1 = | nationalgoals1 = | nationalyears2 = 2011–2024 | nationalteam2 = India | nationalcaps2 = 100 | nationalgoals2 = 4 | club-update = 24 March 2024 | nationalteam-update = 27 October 2024 }} '''Ashalata Devi Loitongbam''' ({{langx|mni|Loitongbam Ashalata Devi}}, born 3 July 1993) is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a defender for the Indian Women's League club East Bengal and the India women's national team.<ref>{{Cite web|date=17 November 2019|title=Indian Women's Football Team Captain Ashalata Devi Has Been Nominated For AFC 'Player Of The Year' Award|url=https://www.indiatimes.com/sports/indian-women-s-football-team-captain-ashalata-devi-has-been-nominated-for-afc-player-of-the-year-award-500613.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118052237/https://www.indiatimes.com/sports/indian-women-s-football-team-captain-ashalata-devi-has-been-nominated-for-afc-player-of-the-year-award-500613.html|archive-date=18 January 2021|access-date=4 December 2020|website=www.indiatimes.com}}</ref> Devi is considered one of the finest defenders from Asia and is the first women's footballer to play 100 matches for the Indian national team.<ref>{{Cite web|date=30 September 2020|title=Beacons who lit the way for women's football in India|url=https://www.olympicchannel.com/en/stories/features/detail/indian-female-football-team-players-best-national-women/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205135343/https://www.olympicchannel.com/en/stories/features/detail/indian-female-football-team-players-best-national-women/|archive-date=5 December 2020|access-date=4 December 2020|website=www.olympicchannel.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Ashalata Devi - Indian women's football team's first centurion|url=https://www.olympics.com/en/news/who-is-ashalata-devi-india-footballer|date=17 October 2024|website=Olympics}}</ref>
== Early life == Devi was born in Imphal, Manipur.<ref>{{Cite web|date=|title=Ashalata Devi Loitongbam – Eurosport|url=https://www.eurosport.com/football/ashalata-devi-loitongbam_prs403711/person.shtml|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909000418/http://www.eurosport.com/football/ashalata-devi-loitongbam_prs403711/person.shtml|archive-date=9 September 2017|access-date=4 December 2020|website=www.eurosport.com}}</ref> She started playing football at the age of 13.<ref>{{Cite web|date=20 May 2019|title=ASHALATA DEVI: "I TRY TO BE A BETTER PLAYER THAN WHAT I WAS YESTERDAY"|url=https://www.fistosports.com/ashalata-devi-try-better-player-yesterday-hero-iwl-sethu-fc|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125202253/https://www.fistosports.com/ashalata-devi-try-better-player-yesterday-hero-iwl-sethu-fc|archive-date=25 November 2020|access-date=4 December 2020|website=www.fistosports.com}}</ref>
== Club career ==
=== New Radiant === In 2015, Devi signed for the Dhivehi Women's Premier League franchise New Radiant W.S.C.<ref>{{Cite web|date=22 May 2015|title=Bembem, Bala and Ashalata Devi invited to play in Maldivian League|url=https://www.the-aiff.com/article/bembem-bala-and-ashalata-devi-invited-to-play-in-maldivian-league|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023115511/https://www.the-aiff.com/article/bembem-bala-and-ashalata-devi-invited-to-play-in-maldivian-league|archive-date=23 October 2020|access-date=5 December 2020|website=All India Football Federation}}</ref> She thus became the second Indian to play for a club outside India after Bembem Devi.<ref>{{Cite web|date=13 March 2020|title=The glorious saga of Indian women football team – Ashalata Devi section|url=https://sportslibro.com/football/news/indian-women-football-team/5251#Loitongbam_Ashalata_Devi:|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819104743/https://sportslibro.com/football/soccer-news/indian-women-football-team/5251#Loitongbam_Ashalata_Devi:|archive-date=19 August 2022|access-date=5 December 2020|website=Sports Libro}}</ref> She won the league with the club in that particular season.<ref>{{Cite web|date=|title=Loitongbam Ashalata Devi signed for New Radiant|url=https://www.pressreader.com/india/the-new-indian-express/20170921/282205126067797|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819104747/https://www.pressreader.com/india/the-new-indian-express/20170921/282205126067797|archive-date=19 August 2022|access-date=5 December 2020|via=PressReader}}</ref>
=== Rising Student Club === In 2016, Devi signed for the newly formed Rising Student Club to feature in the first edition of the Indian Women's League.<ref>{{Cite web|date=29 October 2020|title=Ashalata Devi: My family initially felt that football is not for girls|url=https://www.goal.com/en-us/news/indian-womens-football-ashalata-devi/v0ur69mc0yo1sxrk0zx19uus|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819104814/https://www.goal.com/en-us/news/indian-womens-football-ashalata-devi/v0ur69mc0yo1sxrk0zx19uus|archive-date=19 August 2022|access-date=5 December 2020|website=www.goal.com}}</ref>
=== KRYPHSA === In 2017, Devi joined the Indian Women's League club KRYPHSA F.C. for the 2017–18 Indian Women's League season.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Nayak|first=Nicolai|title=Relishing challenges and leading by example: Meet Indian women's football team captain Ashalata Devi|url=https://scroll.in/field/931258/relishing-challenges-and-leading-by-example-meet-indian-womens-football-team-captain-ashalata-devi|access-date=2021-01-29|website=Scroll.in|date=21 July 2019 |language=en-US|archive-date=7 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107235814/https://scroll.in/field/931258/relishing-challenges-and-leading-by-example-meet-indian-womens-football-team-captain-ashalata-devi|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== Sethu === In 2018, Devi transferred to Tamil Nadu based club Sethu FC which participates in the Indian Women's League.<ref>{{Cite web|date=13 March 2020|title=The glorious saga of Indian women football team|url=https://sportslibro.com/football/news/indian-women-football-team/5251|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819104743/https://sportslibro.com/football/soccer-news/indian-women-football-team/5251|archive-date=19 August 2022|access-date=5 December 2020|website=Sports Libro}}</ref> In the 2018–19 Indian Women's League season, Sethu won the tournament by defeating Manipur Police SC 1–3 in the finals, where Devi won her maiden Indian Women's League trophy.<ref>{{Cite web|date=22 May 2019|title=Hero Indian Women's League 2018–19 , Final {{!}} Manipur Police Sports Club 1–3 Sethu|url=https://www.the-aiff.com/match-center/cms/5200|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928164118/https://www.the-aiff.com/match-center/cms/5200|archive-date=28 September 2020|access-date=5 December 2020|website=All India Football Federation}}</ref>
== International career == In 2008 at the age of 15, Devi was called-up for India U17. Devi was called-up for the senior team and debuted in the year 2011.<ref>{{Cite web|title=ASHALATA DEVI: "I AM AFRAID OF NO ONE ON THE PITCH"|url=https://sethufc.com/ashalata-devi-i-am-afraid-of-no-one-on-the-pitch.php|access-date=4 December 2020|website=Sethu FC Official Website}}</ref> She served as the captain of the India women's national football team from 2018 till 2024. Devi played a pivotal role in India's success in qualifying for the 2021 Olympics (supposed to be held in 2020) which is going to be held in Tokyo. Devi has several achievements with the national team. Devi was a part of the Indian tea that won two South Asian Games gold medals in 2016<ref>{{Cite web|date=15 February 2016|title=Indian Women win Gold in South Asian Games|url=http://www.the-aiff.com/article/indian-women-win-gold-in-south-asian-games|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200708162159/https://www.the-aiff.com/article/indian-women-win-gold-in-south-asian-games|archive-date=8 July 2020|access-date=5 December 2020|website=All India Football Federation}}</ref> and 2019<ref>{{Cite web|date=9 December 2019|title=Bala Devi brace powers Indian women's team to 3rd straight SAG Gold|url=https://www.the-aiff.com/article/bala-devi-brace-powers-indian-womens-team-to-3rd-straight-sag-gold|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210621201235/https://www.the-aiff.com/article/bala-devi-brace-powers-indian-womens-team-to-3rd-straight-sag-gold|archive-date=21 June 2021|access-date=5 December 2020|website=All India Football Federation}}</ref> and was also part of the team that won the SAFF Women's Championship four times consecutively, in 2012,<ref>{{Cite web|title=INDIA DEFEND TITLE IN STYLE|url=http://www.the-aiff.com/pages/news/index.php?N_Id=3296|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130105004205/http://www.the-aiff.com/pages/news/index.php|archive-date=5 January 2013|access-date=5 December 2020|website=All India Football Federation}}</ref> 2014,<ref>{{Cite web|date=21 November 2014|title=Six star India retain SAFF Women's Championship|url=https://www.the-aiff.com/article/six-star-india-retain-saff-womens-championship|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819104743/https://www.the-aiff.com/article/six-star-india-retain-saff-womens-championship|archive-date=19 August 2022|access-date=5 December 2020|website=All India Football Federation}}</ref> 2016<ref>{{Cite web|date=6 January 2017|title=India Defeat Bangladesh To Clinch The SAFF Cup 2016|url=https://feminisminindia.com/2017/01/06/south-asian-football-federation-cup-india-wins-2016/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107082601/https://feminisminindia.com/2017/01/06/south-asian-football-federation-cup-india-wins-2016/|archive-date=7 January 2021|access-date=5 December 2020|website=feminismindia.com}}</ref> and finally in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|date=22 March 2019|title=INDIAN WOMEN CLINCH FIFTH STRAIGHT SAFF TITLE AFTER 3–1 WIN OVER NEPAL|url=http://www.the-aiff.com/article/indian-women-clinch-fifth-straight-saff-title-after-3-1-win-over-nepal|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200915034537/http://www.the-aiff.com/article/indian-women-clinch-fifth-straight-saff-title-after-3-1-win-over-nepal|archive-date=15 September 2020|access-date=5 December 2020|website=All India Football Federation}}</ref> She was nominated by AFC for the women's player of the year in 2019<ref>{{Cite web|date=17 November 2019|title=India's Ashalata Devi nominated for AFC 'Player of the Year' award|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/indias-ashalata-devi-nominated-for-afc-player-of-the-year-award/articleshow/72092425.cms|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191117084305/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/indias-ashalata-devi-nominated-for-afc-player-of-the-year-award/articleshow/72092425.cms|archive-date=17 November 2019|access-date=5 December 2019|website=The Times of India}}</ref> and was selected as the AIFF women's player of the year for her performance in the 2018–19 campaign.<ref>{{Cite web|date=9 July 2019|title=PRAFUL PATEL ANNOUNCES 2018–19 AIFF AWARDS|url=https://www.the-aiff.com/article/praful-patel-announces-2018-19-aiff-awards#:~:text=Among%20the%20women%2C%20Ashalata%20Devi,of%20the%20Year%202018%2D19.|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819104743/https://www.the-aiff.com/article/praful-patel-announces-2018-19-aiff-awards#:~:text=Among%20the%20women%2C%20Ashalata%20Devi,of%20the%20Year%202018%2D19.|archive-date=19 August 2022|access-date=5 December 2020|website=All India Football Federation}}</ref>
==Career statistics== ===International=== {{Updated|27 October 2024}} {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" !National team!!Year!!Caps!!Goals |- | rowspan=13|India |2011 |3 |0 |- |2012 |5 |0 |- |2013 |5 |0 |- |2014 |8 |1 |- |2015 |2 |1 |- |2016 |7 |1 |- |2017 |7 |0 |- |2018 |3 |0 |- |2019 |26 |1 |- |2021 |9 |0 |- |2022 |6 |0 |- |2023 |9 |0 |- |2024 |10 |0 |- ! colspan=2|Total !100 !4 |}
===International goals=== :''Scores and results list India's goal tally first.'' {| class="wikitable" |- |+List of international goals scored by Loitongbam Ashalata Devi ! No. !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition |- | 1 || 14 September 2014 || Incheon Namdong Asiad Rugby Field, Incheon, South Korea || {{fbw|MDV}} || align=center|10–0 || align=center| 15–0 || 2014 Asian Games |- | 2 || 13 March 2015 || Mandalar Thiri Stadium, Mandalay, Myanmar || {{fbw|SRI}} || align=center|2–0 || align=center| 4–0 || 2016 Olympic Qualifiers |- | 3 || 15 February 2016 || Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Shillong, India || {{fbw|NEP}} || align=center|4–0 || align=center| 4–0 || 2016 Olympic Qualifiers |- | 4 || 6 April 2019 || Mandalar Thiri Stadium, Mandalay, Myanmar || {{fbw|NEP}} || align=center|3–1 || align=center| 3–1 || 2020 Olympic Qualifiers |}
==Honours==
'''India''' *SAFF Women's Championship: 2012, 2014, 2016, 2019 *South Asian Games Gold medal: 2016, 2019
'''East Bengal''' * Indian Women's League: 2024–25
'''Sethu FC''' *Indian Women's League: 2018–19
'''Gokulam Kerala''' *Indian Women's League: 2021–22, 2022–23<ref>{{cite news |title=Gokulam Kerala steamroll Kickstart to complete hat-trick of Hero IWL titles|url=https://www.the-aiff.com/article/gokulam-kerala-steamroll-kickstart-to-complete-hat-trick-of-hero-iwl-titles|access-date=21 May 2023 |website=the-aiff.com|publisher=All India Football Federation|date=21 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230522160849/https://www.the-aiff.com/article/gokulam-kerala-steamroll-kickstart-to-complete-hat-trick-of-hero-iwl-titles|archive-date=22 May 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Indian Women's League 2023: Gokulam Kerala thrash Kickstart FC 5–0 to win third consecutive title|url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/gokulam-kerala-wins-indian-womens-league-gkfc-5-0-kickstart-fc-sabitra-bhandari-top-scorer-iwl-records-milestones-stats/article66878249.ece|website=sportstar.thehindu.com|publisher=Sportstar|date=21 May 2023|access-date=22 May 2023|location=Chennai|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230522151217/https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/gokulam-kerala-wins-indian-womens-league-gkfc-5-0-kickstart-fc-sabitra-bhandari-top-scorer-iwl-records-milestones-stats/article66878249.ece|archive-date=22 May 2023}}</ref>
'''Railways''' * Rajmata Jijabai Trophy: 2015–16
'''New Radiant''' *FAM Women's Football Championship: 2015
'''Individual''' * Indian Women's League Best Defender: 2021–22 * AIFF women's player of the year: 2018–19<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sportstar|first=Team|title=Sunil Chhetri and Ashalata Devi bag top honours at AIFF Awards|url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/indian-football-aiff-awards-sunil-chhetri-ashalata-devi-dangmei-grace-sahad-abdul-samad-jammu-and-kashmir-football/article28332935.ece|date=9 July 2019|access-date=25 March 2022|website=sportstar.thehindu.com|publisher=Sportstar|archive-date=27 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027045433/https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/indian-football-aiff-awards-sunil-chhetri-ashalata-devi-dangmei-grace-sahad-abdul-samad-jammu-and-kashmir-football/article28332935.ece|language=en}}</ref> * AFC women's player of the year 2019: Nominee
==See also== *List of Indian football players in foreign leagues
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links == * [https://www.the-aiff.com/players/profile/62505 Loitongbam Ashalata Devi] at All India Football Federation * {{GSA player|ashalata-devi/51329}} * [http://www.eurosport.com/football/ashalata-devi-loitongbam_prs403711/person.shtml Loitongbam Ashalata Devi] at Eurosport
{{India squad 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Loitongbam, Ashalata Devi}} Category:1993 births Category:Living people Category:Indian women's footballers Category:Footballers from Imphal Category:India women's international footballers Category:India women's youth international footballers Category:Women's association football central defenders Category:Sportswomen from Manipur Category:Rising Students Club players Category:KRYPHSA FC players Category:Sethu FC players Category:Gokulam Kerala FC Women players Category:East Bengal FC Women players Category:Indian Women's League players Category:Indian expatriate women's footballers Category:Indian expatriate sportspeople in the Maldives Category:Expatriate women's footballers in the Maldives Category:Asian Games footballers for India Category:Footballers at the 2014 Asian Games Category:Footballers at the 2022 Asian Games Category:South Asian Games gold medalists for India Category:South Asian Games medalists in football Category:FIFA Women's Century Club Category:21st-century Indian sportswomen Category:2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup players