Loitongbam Ashalata Devi is an Indian footballer from Manipur who plays as a defender. She has represented the India women's national football team and has served as its captain, becoming one of the most prominent figures in Indian women's football in the late 2010s and early 2020s.
| Full name | Loitongbam Ashalata Devi |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Indian |
| State of origin | Manipur |
| Sport | Association football |
| Position | Defender (centre-back) |
| National team | India women's national football team |
| Role | Player; former national team captain |
Ashalata Devi hails from Manipur, a state in north-eastern India that has produced a large share of India's women footballers. The state's strong grassroots structure and competitive local leagues have historically supplied the senior national team with players, and Ashalata emerged from this environment as a defender known for her aerial ability and positional discipline.
Ashalata has played for several leading clubs in Indian women's football, featuring in the Indian Women's League (IWL), the country's top tier women's competition organised by the All India Football Federation (AIFF). She has represented Manipur-based and other domestic sides in the IWL and the Senior Women's National Football Championship, where she has appeared regularly for Manipur.
Ashalata has been a long-standing member of the India senior women's squad, playing as a central defender. She has captained the national team in international fixtures, including matches in the SAFF Women's Championship and the AFC Women's Asian Cup qualification cycle. She was part of the Indian squad that prepared for the 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup, which India hosted.
Ashalata was named the AIFF Women's Footballer of the Year, recognising her performances for club and country. The award, presented by the All India Football Federation, is among the highest individual honours in Indian football.
As a defender and captain, Ashalata has been central to India's defensive organisation in the women's game during a period when the national team has sought greater visibility on the Asian stage. Alongside players such as Bala Devi and Sandhiya Ranganathan, she represents a generation of Manipuri footballers who have shaped the modern Indian women's team.