The Manipur government on Sunday extended a financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh to international footballer Ngangom Bala Devi.
The financial assistance was given to the star forward for the Indian Women team for her knee surgery in Kolkata, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh said in a Facebook post.
"The State Government has extended a financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh to our Manipuri footballer Ngangom Bala Devi for her knee surgery in Kolkata. Bala currently plays for Rangers Women’s FC in Scotland and she is in India for her recovery. She was named as the All India Football Federation (AIFF) Women’s Footballer of the Year 2020-21," CM Biren wrote.
Bala 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 for the country. She led the Indian women team as a captain from 2015-2018.
Bala has completed a 16-month contract with Scottish Women Premier League club Rangers FC and she returned to her home state Manipur on July 24, 2021.
Bala is the only player to have signed an 18-month contract with Rangers FC and the contract has been extended for another six months.
Acknowledging her contribution, Bala was recently promoted as inspector, Manipur Police. She was appointed as a constable in Manipur Police in 2010.
