20 years playing for India and yet no Arjuna Award!

'I regret not having played an individual sport. When it came to rewarding an athlete, it was always one in an individual sport who was favoured.'

'I feel lucky that I was born in India and played football for India. I can go home with a smile on my face.

Bembem Devi, Indian women's football icon, looks back on her successful career in a freewheeling chat with Laxmi Negi/Rediff.com

The last few days of Oinam Bembem Devi's career were very exciting.

After playing for over two decades, the Indian women's football legend hung up her illustrious boots in December, but with the South Asian Games around the corner she was coaxed out of retirement by the All India Football Federation and the team's younger members.

Heeding those requests, Bembem Devi, 35, made a comeback and bent it for India one last time.

And what a decision it proved to be!

Inspirational as she is in the dressing room, she led the team to a gold medal at the South Asian Games. India beat Nepal 4-0 in the final with Bembem scoring one goal.

"I was fit and sitting at home. I thought 'I have played 20 years for India, why not for another month?' And then I got back to training."

Your last match for India was the South Asian Games final. What was it like?

I was surprised with the kind of support I received, be it from the spectators or media. Everyone in the stadium was chanting my name. There were posters wishing me well for my farewell match.

The number of interviews I have given I hadn't given in the 20 years I played for India.

Under your captaincy India won gold at the Games in 2010 and 2016. What was the difference in both victories?

In 2010, we were playing in Bangladesh, but in 2016, in Shillong, we had a very exciting tournament. I have never seen a packed stadium to watch football in India. There were old and young alike in the stadium cheering for us.

With such support, did you feel like making a U-turn on your retirement?

I am 35 now and my body is not the same. I have to respect the fact that there are niggling pains which are difficult to overcome every day. I don't want to give my 90 per cent in training.

I feel lucky that I was born in India and played football for India. I can go home with a smile on my face. That's enough.

My retirement day was the best moment of my life. I was felicitated before the match and the spectators kept motivating me. What else could I ask for?

Did you ask your team members to win the gold medal for you?

Yes, I did.

We did not start the South Asian Games on a right note. We had a tough time as we drew against the Maldives in the group stages.

I wanted to talk to the girls and called a team meeting. I started by asking the girls that I need something from each one of them. They were eager to give anything for me.

So I told them: 'This is my last tournament, I want to win a gold medal, will you help me win gold for India?'

It was such a moving gesture by the girls. They all came forward and stretched out their hands and promised me that they will win the gold and dedicate it to me.

When we won the gold, some of the girls could not hold back their emotions. Tears started rolling down my eyes.

Any regrets?

I could not take India to the World Cup or the Olympics. We reached the second round in qualification, but never entered these prestigious tournaments.

I regret not having played an individual sport. In my career, when it came to rewarding an athlete, it was always one in an individual sport who was favoured.

There was always an excuse for us (footballers) that players in team sports cannot be accommodated. Too many to look after, I was told.

Does it hurt?

Of course! Even after contributing 20 years of my life to the country I still have to prove why I deserve the Arjuna Award.

Forget that, in my own state (Manipur) I haven't got a promotion in the last 10 years. (Bembem is employed with the Manipur police.)

I have been told that players representing the country in World Cups and Olympics get more points. Even I have won SAFF (South Asian Football Federation) Cups and SAG (South Asian Games) tournaments for the country.

Now I am not going to try for the Arjuna Award.

Do you feel women get discriminated in sport?

Yes, not in Manipur, but in the rest of the country.

I would not like to name anyone, but we had a very intelligent player from Tamil Nadu. She was studying to be an engineer and was good at football, but her parents refused to allow her to play the game so that she could get married. I thought the Indian team missed out on a very good player.

Had there been a more professional set-up in Indian women's football would things have been different?

That is a different topic all together. I have been talking to the AIFF (the All India Football Federation) about a separate league for women, but I know it is not just the federation but India's corporate houses that need to focus on women's sport. Only then can there be a major impact.