<p>Exploits in football earned her the Padma Shri, but to become India's most well-known woman footballer, Oinam Bembem Devi played with the boys, called herself Bobo one day, Amko the other.</p>.<p>The first woman footballer to have been awarded the Padma Shri, Bembem Devi on Sunday went back to the time when she worked to become what she is today.</p>.<p>"When I was some nine years old I had changed my name to Bobo, Amko to play football with the boys. Had I mentioned that my name was Bembem they would have understood I was a girl, and not taken me in their team to play," she said.</p>.<p>The men's team talisman Sunil Chhetri was the last footballer to win Padma Shri, in 2019.</p>.<p>Bembem hoped this will act as recognition for women's football in India.</p>.<p>"This is an eye opener to all who believe you can't go places playing women's football in India. I hope this will inspire all the girls and their parents to believe.</p>.<p>"This is the year of the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2020. This Padma Shri award is for the next generation of girls who will play, or take up the sport some years later."</p>.<p>She said it's an absolute honour to join a club that boasts names as big as the late Sailen Manna, Chuni Goswami, P K Banerjee and Bhaichung Bhutia, besides Chhetri.</p>.<p>"They are real legends, people whom I have heard about, and looked up to during my career.</p>.<p>"But I feel this is just the beginning for women's football. I see more women footballers coming up to join the club."</p>.<p>On the prestigious honour, she said, "It was a moment of immense satisfaction -- the moment when all your pains, sacrifices, hard work combined together and came in a package to bring the Padma Shri.</p>.<p>"This motivates me for my future assignments, endeavours."</p>.<p>All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Praful Patel said, "None deserve it more than Bembem Devi. She has been a role model for Indian football and won so many laurels for India over the years.</p>.<p>"I hope more girls draw inspiration from her and take Indian women's football to greater heights." </p>
<p>Exploits in football earned her the Padma Shri, but to become India's most well-known woman footballer, Oinam Bembem Devi played with the boys, called herself Bobo one day, Amko the other.</p>.<p>The first woman footballer to have been awarded the Padma Shri, Bembem Devi on Sunday went back to the time when she worked to become what she is today.</p>.<p>"When I was some nine years old I had changed my name to Bobo, Amko to play football with the boys. Had I mentioned that my name was Bembem they would have understood I was a girl, and not taken me in their team to play," she said.</p>.<p>The men's team talisman Sunil Chhetri was the last footballer to win Padma Shri, in 2019.</p>.<p>Bembem hoped this will act as recognition for women's football in India.</p>.<p>"This is an eye opener to all who believe you can't go places playing women's football in India. I hope this will inspire all the girls and their parents to believe.</p>.<p>"This is the year of the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2020. This Padma Shri award is for the next generation of girls who will play, or take up the sport some years later."</p>.<p>She said it's an absolute honour to join a club that boasts names as big as the late Sailen Manna, Chuni Goswami, P K Banerjee and Bhaichung Bhutia, besides Chhetri.</p>.<p>"They are real legends, people whom I have heard about, and looked up to during my career.</p>.<p>"But I feel this is just the beginning for women's football. I see more women footballers coming up to join the club."</p>.<p>On the prestigious honour, she said, "It was a moment of immense satisfaction -- the moment when all your pains, sacrifices, hard work combined together and came in a package to bring the Padma Shri.</p>.<p>"This motivates me for my future assignments, endeavours."</p>.<p>All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Praful Patel said, "None deserve it more than Bembem Devi. She has been a role model for Indian football and won so many laurels for India over the years.</p>.<p>"I hope more girls draw inspiration from her and take Indian women's football to greater heights." </p>