Ashalata Devi, Bembem Devi nominated for AFC Women's Asian Cup all-time XI

Two legendary Indian icons are nominated in this list for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup all-time XI.

With a few months remaining for the biggest continental event in women’s footballing history, the Asian Football Confederation has released the list of nominees to be inducted into the all-time AFC Women’s Asian Cup Dream XI.

From three-time Asian champions to standout performers who completely changed the fate of women’s football in their country, this elite list of nominees includes some of the greatest footballing icons from Asia, whose journey has been nothing less than an inspiration for millions of girls across the world who dare to dream.

In this elite list, two such Indian icons have also been nominated, who have unarguably been among the most accomplished players in the history of Indian women’s football.

Ashalata Devi and Bembem Devi in nominations

The current captain of the Indian women’s football team and two-time South Asian Games gold medallist, Ashalata Devi, has been nominated in the category of all-time best defenders. She also became the first Indian woman player to make over a century of appearances for the Indian women’s national team.

Apart from that, the legendary Bembem Devi has been nominated in the category of best midfielders. Padma Shri recipient Devi won the AIFF Player of the Year Award twice in 2001 and 2013. She was also felicitated with the Arjuna Award in 2017 and is a three-time SAFF Women’s Championship winner.

Fans from all across the length and breadth of this planet can cast their vote until January 10th 2026, to nominate their all-time best defenders in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup.

In this article, we take a look at their illustrious career and the other nominees in the category of all-time best defenders and midfielders.

Ashalata Devi is first woman player to play 100 games for India

The 32-year-old Indian defender from Imphal is one of the most decorated players in the history of women’s football in India. The Indian captain is the first woman player to make over a century of appearances for the Indian women’s national team.

Her list of accomplishments is diverse and ranges from winning the SAFF Women’s Championship four times to clinching gold medals in two successive editions of the South Asian Games 2016 and 2019.

She also won the AIFF Women’s Player of the Year Award in 2019 and was nominated as the AFC Women’s Player of the Year, the same year. From winning the IWL four times with three different teams like East Bengal, Gokulam Kerala and Sethu FC to bringing India close to Olympic qualification in 2021.

Bembem Devi is an Arjuna Award and Padma Shri recipient

India’s third most capped player, Bembem Devi, led the Indian women’s team in the 2003 AFC Women’s Asian Cup. Apart from winning the SAFF Women’s Championship thrice, she is also a two-time gold medalist at the South Asian Games in 2010 and 2016.

In 2016-17, she won the IWL with Eastern Sporting Union, both as a coach and a player and also went on to win the Maldivian top flight with New Radiants WSC. For her exemplary performance, she was adjudged the FAM Premier League Player of the Tournament in 2015.

Taking a look at other nominees

One of the most notable names on this list is Wen Lirong from the People’s Republic of China, who is also a three-time Asian Champion. She was a commanding presence in the back during China’s golden generation, which went on to win silver in the 1996 US Olympics and the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Apart from that, Australian legend Steph Catley is also inducted into the list of nominees. She was part of the Australian squad that reached two back-to-back finals of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in 2014 and 2018. She recently won the UEFA Women’s Champions League with Arsenal this year.

Some other distinguished nominees include Aya Miyama and Saki Kumagai from Japan, who won the Asian honours in 2018 and Jang Sel-gi from the Republic, who was also adjudged the MVP of the 2013 AFC U19 Women’s Championship and was the runner-up in the last edition.

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