Oinam Bembem Devi is an Indian footballer from Manipur, widely regarded as one of the most decorated and influential women players in Indian football history. A midfielder known for her vision, composure on the ball and leadership, she represented the India women's national football team for over two decades and captained the side in several international competitions.
| Full name | Oinam Bembem Devi |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Indian |
| State | Manipur |
| Sport | Football (Association football) |
| Position | Midfielder |
| National team | India women's national football team |
| Notable honours | Arjuna Award; Padma Shri |
| Popular epithet | "Durga of Indian Football" |
Bembem Devi hails from Manipur, a state in north-east India that has produced a substantial share of the country's leading women footballers. She began playing organised football at a young age and progressed through age-group competitions before being selected for the senior national team while still in her teens.
At the domestic level, Bembem Devi was a long-time mainstay of Manipur in the Senior Women's National Football Championship, helping the state to multiple national titles. She also had a stint with New Radiant SC in the Maldives, becoming one of the early Indian women footballers to play professionally outside the country.
Bembem Devi was a central figure in the India women's national team across multiple cycles of the SAFF Women's Championship and the South Asian Games, contests in which India dominated the region during her playing years. She captained India to gold medals at the South Asian Games and to titles in the SAFF Women's Championship, and represented the country at the AFC Women's Asian Cup qualifiers and other Asian Football Confederation competitions.
Operating primarily as an attacking midfielder, she was known for her passing range, set-piece deliveries and ability to dictate tempo. Her longevity at the international level — spanning roughly two decades — made her a bridge between successive generations of Indian women footballers.
Bembem Devi's career coincided with a period in which women's football in India received limited institutional support and modest media coverage. Her sustained excellence, captaincy and visibility helped raise the profile of the women's game, and she is frequently cited as a role model by younger Indian women footballers. Her transition into coaching has extended her influence on player development, particularly in Manipur and at the national level.