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Oinam Bembem Devi with her award after landing in Imphal on Wednesday, August 30. (EM Images)[/caption]
Imphal, August 30 (EMN): Oinam Bembem Devi, the flag bearer of Indian women's football for over the past two decades was accorded a hero’s welcome when she returned home after receiving the prestigious Arjuna Award, on Wednesday.
A large number of football lovers, her near and dear ones and family members who came in two and four wheelers to welcome Bembem on her arrival at Imphal International airport and drove to her Pishum Oinam Leikai residence in Imphal.
Now after over 20 years of contribution to the sport, Bembem,a resident of Pishum Oinam Leikai in Imphal has become the second Indian woman footballer to win the Arjuna Award, after Shanti Mullick, the former national team captain who won the accolade back in 1983.
Awarded by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, the accolade consists of a cash prize of INR 500,000/- a bronze statue of Arjuna and a scroll.
Speaking to media on her arrival, she said she was happy for the honour. She also expected that the state players will bring more such awards in future. Bembem who is presently serving in Manipur police made her international debut in 1995 as an industrious midfielder and bowed out on a high after winning the SAF Games Gold Medal in Shillong in February 2015.
She has hence been closely associated with All India Football Federation (AIFF) for spreading awareness about women's football in India and is actively involved as a scout and Brand Ambassador for FIFA Live Your Goals, India. Earlier she was also awarded the AIFF Woman Footballer Award twice, in 2001 and 2013. AIFF President Praful Patel congratulated Bembem on her achievement. Bembem is the 25th footballer to have won the Arjuna Award, the last being Subrata Paul in 2016. This time Manipur has produced two Arjuna Awardees.The other awardee was the boxer Laishram Devendro.
In recognition of the outstanding achievements of international woman footballer and Arjuna Awardee Oinam Bembem Devi, the State Government has announced to include the ace woman footballer in the State Sports Expert Committee.
This was announced by Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Letpao Haokip and Art and Culture Minister L Jayantakumar during the grand reception ceremony of Arjuna Awardee Oinam Bembem organised by United Pioneers Club today at Ereima Shanglen, Pishumthong Oinam Leikai.
Speaking at the reception ceremony, sports Minister Letpao Haokip said Oinam Bembem is the pride of Manipur and her perseverance has paid dividend. Letpao Haokip promised a playground to the locality where Oinam Bembem belongs in acknowledgment of her outstanding achievement. He further said that Bembem would certainly be an inspiration to many talented women footballers of the State.
The Minister also lauded the achievements of the State sportspersons of the State despite several constraints. He further encouraged sportspersons of the State to strive for excellence in whatever disciplines they have chosen.
The Minister was all praises to the sportspersons who made the State known to the world as Sports Powerhouse. It was the achievements and strides made by the sportspersons that pave the way for a National Sports University in Manipur, the Minister said.
The reception ceremony was attended by local MLA and Art & Culture Minister L. Jayantakumar; MLA of Mayang Imphal A/C Shri Kongkham Robindro; Corporator of Ward No. 13 IMC Oinam Romeo, teachers of Oinam Bembem and sports lovers.
Addressing the gatherings, Oinam Bembem, who is the second Indian woman footballer to win the Arjuna Award after Shanti Mullick (1983), said she dedicated the award to the people of the State and to all women of the country.
Saying that her focus now would shift to giving guides and trainings to women footballers as coach, Bembem urged budding women footballers of the State to shed any inhibition and take up the sport.
Bembem, who is also known as the flag bearer of Indian women's football for over two decades, represented India in 85 games and scored overwhelming 32 goals before she finally hanged her boots about two years back.
It may be mentioned that sportspersons from the State Oinam Bembem (footballer) and Devendro Singh (Boxing) were among few other sportspersons of the country who received the prestigious Arjuna Award from the President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind yesterday.
