Bala Devi makes history as lone Ranger in European top tier
New Indian ExpressThis makes Bala Devi the first Indian woman to be signed up by top-division club in Europe. Also, while in the past Indian players — men and women — found it hard to get play-time, she will be a vital cog in the side managed by Amy McDonald Mark Hately, a former Rangers striker and the Head of Club Ambassadors and Business Development, said Bala Devi will be one of their important players. That’s the reason we decided to give her the No 10 shirt — something we don’t give to fringe players. Going forward, since she will be one of the senior players, she will have the responsibility to even teach the younger ones in the team,” said Hately.Bala Devi, who has scored 52 goals for India in 58 appearances and was the top-scorer in the Indian Women’s League last season with 26 strikes in just seven games, aims to learn as much as possible and help the national team.