Bala Devi targets comeback for India, awaits a new club

Bala Devi. Problems in extending her visa as well as an ACL injury had forced the ace Indian striker to cut short her Scottish sojourn last year and return to India. While Bala left Rangers FC mid-season, she was also not fully fit to represent India at the AFC Asian Cup that India hosted earlier this year.

But having had her knee operated upon and currently undergoing her rehabilitation in the country, the footballer is eager to be back in the fold for the Indian national team. “I have just a month left in the rehabilitation programme. After that, I would like to be make a comeback into the national team and start representing India again,” Bala told during an exclusive chat with TOI on the sidelines of the elite camp for women footballers here last week.

“It was disappointing for me to not be able to compete in the Asian Cup. But even without me, I think we had a good team and it was even more disappointing that the team could not compete.” The Indian women’s team’s withdrawal from the Asian Cup due to the Covid outbreak in the squad not only brought curtains on the team’s hopes of qualifying for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, it also ended India’s itinerary of competitions for the year. And Bala might have to wait longer to get back into India colours as head coach Thomas Dennerby is on U-17 team duty with the U17 Women’s World Cup scheduled in India for October.

With her Rangers FC contract having ended earlier this year, Bala is hoping to find more avenues to further her professional aspirations in Europe. “I got to learn a lot and improve tremendously as a player at Rangers. I would like to continue that journey, even if I don’t get a call-back from them.