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Ashalata Devi's NOC Delay Highlights Challenges in Women's Indian Football
Sentiment: NeutralHigh Priority
What Happened?
Ashalata Devi, a key player in Indian women's football, is sidelined from the AFC Women's Champions League due to a missing No Objection Certificate from Indian Railways. This recurring issue reflects broader challenges faced by women athletes in India.
Key points
- Ashalata Devi applied for her No Objection Certificate 18 days ago but has not received it.
- She previously missed matches in the 2025-26 AFC Women's Champions League due to a similar NOC issue.
- The IWL schedule is often confirmed only 10-15 days before matches, complicating NOC approvals.
- Ashalata plans to retire after the 2026-27 IWL season due to injuries and work-related issues.
- She emphasizes that many women footballers in government jobs face similar challenges.
Key insights
- The delay in obtaining NOCs could discourage young female athletes from pursuing sports careers.
- Ashalata's potential retirement may impact the visibility and support for women's football in India.
- The ongoing pay gap in women's football may lead to fewer women pursuing the sport professionally.
Why it matters
The situation highlights systemic issues affecting women's participation in sports in India.
Tags
Entities
Ashalata Devi· PersonIndian Railways· OrganizationAFC Women's Champions League· EventIndian Women's League· EventEast Bengal· Organization
Source
Times Now
