Sruti Chakraborty
AIFF Media Team

KATHMANDU: Standing a handshaking distance away from a monumental milestone, Loitongbam Ashalata Devi is somewhat apprehensive, but certainly not on “nervous 99”.

The distinguished centre-back, who has faithfully guarded the Indian women’s national team’s defence like the legendary Rock of Gibraltar for the past 13 years, will be donning the Blue Tigresses’ jersey the 100th time on Thursday, October 16, 2024, when India take on arch-rivals Pakistan in the SAFF Women's Championship 2024 at the Dasharath Stadium.

On the eve of the historic occasion, Ashalata poured her heart out to www.the-aiff.com on the journey she undertook in 2011, on the highs and the lows, and the memories that remain etched in her mind.

Excerpts:

Question: How do you feel that you're about to reach such a milestone?

Ashalata Devi: I'm very happy and excited that I'll reach 100 caps in the first game of the SAFF Championship. It's difficult to put this feeling into words. This tournament is very important for our team. I hope we can play better and win the trophy.

I feel the emotions about the fact that I'll become the first Indian woman footballer to get a century of international caps for the country. I'm proud of my hard work and consistency. I would like to thank my teammates that I was able to play with them for so long and perform at a high level together.

Q: When you debuted in 2011 in the Olympic qualifiers, did you ever think you'll get to 100 caps?

AD: Honestly, I had never thought that. Since I started playing, I have always enjoyed playing football and I just wanted to keep representing the nation. I never set a dream that I want to get 100 or 200 caps. That was not on my mind. But I've been very excited in the last few matches that I'm about to play my 100th one.

Q: What's in your mind right now? You're about to reach an important milestone. Do you feel any pressure?

AD: I think some pressure is always there ahead of big games and big tournaments. I've always accepted that we should feel the pressure. Because the more we feel it, the more the opponents also feel. I have to perform, and I have to remain calm, and focus on my game. We had a setback in the previous SAFF Championship, so we want to right those wrongs.

Q: What were the highest and the lowest points of your 13-year career so far?

AD: The lowest point was when we hosted the AFC Women's Asian Cup in 2022. We never thought we'd have to withdraw from the tournament due to COVID. After working hard for so many months, all those unfortunate things happened. That's the biggest setback of my life. We all will never be able to forget that in our lives.

The highest point was when we won the 2019 SAFF Championship here in Nepal. There were a lot of changes in the team during that time. But everyone performed their best, gave everything on the pitch. We had utmost unity and team bonding. There hasn't been a better moment than that in my career so far.

Q: What is the most memorable match of your career?

AD: The friendly match we played against Brazil in Manaus in 2021 before the Asian Cup. We faced so many legends like Marta and Formiga. We did lose the match but that was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. That was a surreal opportunity for our team. We took a lot of learnings from that match.

Q: You've seen a lot of transition in women's football since you started playing. What are your thoughts on that and as a player, what do you want to change?

AD: I started representing India in youth teams in 2008 and the senior team in 2011. That was a very different time. In the last two to three years, the scenario of women's football has changed a lot. We didn't have the IWL before 2016. There weren't many opportunities for women to play football round the year. Now, we get a lot of tournaments. There's IWL, IWL 2, Khelo India Leagues, National Championships and much more. We had a four-month long home-and-away IWL last time. We should keep improving. If we keep playing more matches, it will help women's football grow in the country.

Q: What would be your favourite India XI to play alongside you?

AD: I'll make a line-up of senior players I've looked up to.

At goalkeeper, I would put Roni ma'am (Ronibala Chanu), Tuli Goon at right-back. Romi Devi and Alochana Senapati at centre-backs with me. Umapati Devi at left-back. In midfield, Bembem Devi with Premi Devi. Sasmita Malik as the left-winger. Tababi Devi as striker. Prameshwori Devi on the right wing.

Q: What are your future plans for the future?

AD: Obviously, I'll try to play for as long as I can. Honestly, there's nothing else I know apart from football (laughs). I really love football with all my heart. Even when I am injured, I continue to work hard and recover so I can get back to full fitness and enjoy football again. After retirement, I want to be involved with football. I'll continue to play for as long as I enjoy football and my body allows me to.

Q: When Sunil Chhetri retired in June after playing more than 150 games, you talked about how difficult it is to play with such consistency for so many years. How do you feel about yourself when you're also about to reach a big milestone?

AD: When Sunil sir retired, I was so shocked. Maintaining yourself at the top level for almost two decades is so difficult. I've realised that the things we love and are passionate about, we think about that a lot deeper. We keep wanting to get better, whether it's on the training pitch or in the gym or technical or classroom stuff. When we're younger, there's a lot of hunger to get better. After getting to a higher level, there's more struggle to maintain that level of performance. That's a big thing. Because you can't drop that level or else other better players will take our place. It's tough after you're over 30 years of age. Our body gets slower, and recovery from injuries is also more difficult. I always think that whatever the issues I face, I can't stop and give up. The hard work can never stop. That's exactly how Sunil sir kept going for so long and gave so much joy to our country.

Q: Who would you like to dedicate this 100th game to? A lot of young girls, including in this team, consider you as a role model. What's your message to the fans?

AD: My mother has never watched me play live. I wanted to bring her for the AFC Women's Asian Cup match in Navi Mumbai but that couldn't happen because of COVID. So, I would like to dedicate this match to her. Also to my teammates, coaches and physiotherapists who have helped me in my tough times, physically and mentally.

To the fans, I would like to tell them to keep watching our matches and supporting us on social media. Your support and blessings mean a lot to us. Keep supporting women's football as much as possible.