Manipur is known as a Sports Power House of India despite being a small State in size and population. The State has a huge potential in Sports. Among the various disciplines of Sports, Manipur has an excellent record in the field of football. The woman footballer Bala Devi from Manipur is already known for playing for the Scottish Women’s Premier League Club- Ranger FC. The Union Minister Kiren Rijiju even named Bala Devi, the Pride of India Football. Now another woman footballer from Manipur, Elangbam Panthoi Chanu from Keirakhas set a record by becoming a footballer in the international arena. More from our Correspondent:
“Despite the long ethnic crisis in Manipur, the sportsperson from the State never fails to make big achievements in the games and Sports. The people of Manipur are still celebrating dominance in northeastern sports by clinching the title of overall champion in the recently concluded 3rd North East Games held in Nagaland. Another woman footballer from Manipur added a feather by becoming the first Indian footballer to play in the Australian League. The woman footballer Elangbam Panthoi Chanu from Keirak, a small village in the Kakching district of Manipur is the current goalkeeper for the Indian National Team. She is going to be the first Indian footballer to play professionally in Australia. Footballer Panthoi will represent Metro United WFC in the South Australia Women’s National Premier League beginning today (Thursday).
She started playing football at the age of twelve and became the best goalkeeper in the second edition of the Indian Women’s League in 2017-18 representing Eastern Sporting Union. Now footballer Panthoi has already left Manipur for Australia to show her stints in the field. Speaking to North East Diary, the uncle of the footballer, who inspired Panthoi in the field of football said that Panthoi was dedicated to football and thus achieved her goal.
After the record set by Manipur woman footballer Bala Devi in the international arena, another footballer Panthoi from the State has become a role model for aspiring footballers, especially young girls in Manipur. Moreover, the footballer has become a hope for countless young athletes across the country.
