Former India captain Ashalata Devi revealed that she might retire after IWL 2026-27. (X/Instagram)
\n\nWhen East Bengal began their AWCL campaign in Kolkata, the first time the tournament's group stage has been staged in India, one of the most decorated players in Indian women's football was missing from the squad. Not because of injury or form, but because of a missing piece of paper.
\n\nAshalata Devi, former India captain and the first women's national team player to feature in 100 international matches, is still waiting for a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Indian Railways, her employer. She applied for clearance for both the AFC Women's Champions League (AWCL) and Indian Women's League (IWL) about 18 days ago. It has not arrived yet.
\n\n"Unfortunately, I am not in the team yet because I did not get the NOC from Railways," the 33-year-old defender told Sports Now.
\n\nIt is not the first time this has happened to her. During the 2025-26 AFC Women's Champions League group stage in China, she travelled with the team but watched every match from the stands as her NOC came through only after she returned home.
\n\nAshalata Devi is the only Indian woman footballer to reach…
Original source: https://www.timesnownews.com/sports
