Manipur may be the sixth-smallest state in India, but when it comes to hockey, it has consistently produced some of the country’s finest talents. From Olympian and goalkeeping stalwart Nilkamal Pangambam to stars like Sushila Chanu, Nilkanta Sharma, Chinglensana Singh and Surajlata Devi, the state has built a rich legacy in the sport.
Now, Bichu Devi is carrying that tradition forward, emerging as one of the brightest stars in Indian hockey and rapidly establishing herself as one of the country’s most dependable goalkeepers. Since making her India debut in 2022, the 25-year-old has enjoyed a meteoric rise. In a short span, she has gone from being a promising prospect to a key member of the national setup, winning a bronze medal at the Asian Games in Hangzhou and playing a pivotal role in SG Pipers’ Women’s Hockey India League triumph, where her shootout heroics in the final proved decisive.
Her growth was evident once again at the FIH Women’s Nations Cup in New Zealand, where India lifted the title. Sharing duties with veteran Savita Punia, Bichu featured in all five matches as India conceded only six goals throughout the tournament and kept clean sheets in both the semi-final and final.
The remarkable rise also earned her individual recognition. Bichu beat Krishan Pathak, Princedeep Singh and Suraj Karkera to claim the Baljit Singh Award for Goalkeeper of the Year 2025, underlining her status as one of India’s leading goalkeepers at the senior level.
Yet none of this was supposed to happen.
Before the medals, the awards and the national team call-ups, Bichu had a completely different dream.
Speaking to India Today, Bichu smiled as she looked back at a twist of fate that changed the course of her life forever. She never wanted to be a hockey player. Her dream was to become a footballer.
“Whenever people ask me this question, I laugh because my story is a little different. I came into hockey by mistake.”
“Actually, I wanted to play football. Since childhood, I used to play football with my brothers. I went to give football trials at SAI, but by the time I got there, the selections were over and the vacancies were full.”
“My father spoke to the director, who was from our village and knew him. He explained that I had come for football trials. The director said hockey still had many vacancies because there weren’t many hockey players in Manipur at that time. He told me to stay for one or two months in hockey and later, if football vacancies opened up, they would shift me.”
“I had no hockey talent at all, but I passed the physical tests. Even after joining hockey, I used to go and practice football.”
The dream of becoming a footballer appeared to be slipping away. When she was informed that there was still no place available in the football academy, Bichu was devastated.
“I cried a lot. I said I didn’t want to play hockey. My father told me to give hockey some time because I was young. If I liked it, I could continue, otherwise we would find another way.”
“Slowly, I started liking hockey. At that time, I played as a striker and sometimes as a full-back.”
As it turned out, becoming a hockey player was only the first unexpected twist in her journey.
If being a hockey player was accidental, becoming a goalkeeper was even more unexpected. The turning point came when Manipur’s first Olympian, Nilkamal Pangambam, spotted something special in the young player.
“Our first Olympian from Manipur, P. Nilkamal sir, came to coach us for about six months. He saw me and told my father, ‘This child has good height. Make her a goalkeeper. She has some qualities and she will progress faster as a goalkeeper.'”
“I cried again. I said I didn’t want to be a goalkeeper. At that time, I didn’t like goalkeepers at all because people used to joke about them.
“But little by little, they made me wear the goalkeeper kit.”
The player who did not want to play hockey and then did not want to be a goalkeeper was slowly being pushed towards a future she could never have imagined.
The next major turning point arrived in Gwalior.
What started as an accidental sporting journey was beginning to take shape as a serious career.
“In 2015, I played the Junior Nationals in Ranchi and performed well. After that, a coach who was involved with the MP Academy goalkeeper setup needed a goalkeeper. Through discussions, I joined the academy in Gwalior.”
“After about six months there, I started playing properly as a goalkeeper. That’s where my hockey journey really began. In 2015, 2016 and 2017, I came into the junior team, and since 2019 I have been continuously with the senior team.”
Today, Bichu says her story does not feel like a dream. But there was one moment when she realised how far she had come.
Selection for the Youth Olympics changed everything.
For Bichu, the initial motivation was surprisingly simple.
She wanted the respect that national team players commanded whenever they returned to their academies.
“When players came back from national camps, I noticed they got a different kind of respect from coaches and everyone else. I wondered why. Then I thought, ‘I also want to go to camp and get that respect.'”
“After that, I started working harder. Then in the 2016-17 Junior Nationals, I performed really well and got selected. Once I got into camp, I realised there was another level. Then I wanted to make the final 18-player squad. After getting into the camp, I worked even harder.”
“Eventually, I made the final 18, then I realised I had to work even harder to make the starting eleven. When I got selected for the Youth Olympics, that was the first time I felt surprised by how far I had come.”
“From there, I understood that reaching the senior team would require even more hard work. Since then, my focus has only been on playing for India and doing something for the team.”
The hard work eventually transformed her into India’s Goalkeeper of the Year. Yet, even now, Bichu believes there is still much more to achieve.
SAVITA PUNIA: RIVAL AND MENTOR
When it comes to Indian women’s hockey, few names carry as much weight as Savita Punia.
The veteran goalkeeper remains India’s No.1, but Bichu insists the competition between them has only made both players better.
“She treats me like a younger sister. Since the day I joined the senior team, she has always been very caring. She has never shouted at me or gotten angry with me.”
“Our bond is such that if I do something well, she is ready to learn from it. If she does something well, I am ready to learn from her. We help each other.”
With Savita entering the latter stages of her career, many see Bichu as the natural successor to India’s No.1 jersey. However, the 25-year-old is not putting any deadlines on that ambition.
Under coach Sjoerd Marijne, both goalkeepers have been given significant opportunities, allowing them to push each other constantly.
“Right now, I am getting opportunities to play regularly. Maybe I can become number one tomorrow, maybe the day after tomorrow, or maybe after one or two years. Nobody knows.”
“What gives me confidence is that sir is giving both of us chances to play. Whenever I get opportunities, I will try to give my best.”
“I know Savita didi will also keep giving her best. So I have never really thought about becoming number one after one year or two years.”
CHASING OLYMPIC DREAM
The coming months could define the future of Indian women’s hockey.
The team has the World Cup and Asian Games on the horizon, with the latter offering a direct route to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Bichu admits she felt the pressure when she first played at the Asian Games. This time, however, experience has changed her outlook.
“When I played the Asian Games last time, it was my first one and I felt nervous and under pressure.”
“But now, with experience, I don’t want to think too much. We trust ourselves and trust what the coaches are teaching us. We just have to follow everything with full faith.”
“We know there are two very big tournaments coming up after the Nations Cup. But we don’t want to overthink the results because sometimes that can have the opposite effect. Right now, our focus is simply on following what the coaches are teaching us and improving our game.”
Qualification for the Los Angeles Olympics remains the ultimate prize on the horizon.
For a player who stumbled into hockey by chance, resisted becoming a goalkeeper and simply wanted to earn the same respect as national team stars, representing India at the Olympics would be the perfect culmination of an extraordinary journey.
“Every player dreams of playing in and achieving something in a big tournament. For every player, the Olympics is special. Right now, my focus and dream is the Olympics.”
– Ends
