Babina Devi Lisham’s Personal Details
Name: Babina Devi Lisham
Date of Birth: 1 February 2005
Birthplace: Haokha Maning Leikai, Thoubal District, Manipur, India
Position: Midfielder
Babina Devi Lisham is one of the promising young midfielders in Indian women’s football. Known for her energy, work rate, and technical ability in midfield, the Manipuri footballer has quickly progressed from grassroots football to representing the India women’s national team. Her journey from playing with improvised equipment in her hometown to earning international caps highlights both her determination and the strong football culture of Manipur.
Babina Devi was born in Haokha Maning Leikai, a locality in the Thoubal district of Manipur, a state widely known for producing several talented footballers in India. She grew up in a modest household; her father, Lisham Kunjo, worked as a mason. Despite limited resources, Babina developed a deep passion for football at a young age.
Her introduction to the sport was simple and creative. As a child, she often played with “nobab,” a citrus fruit shaped like a ball, due to the lack of proper football equipment. This playful beginning eventually turned into a serious football journey when she was noticed by Mutum Surmala Chanu, a police officer and former assistant coach of the Indian women’s national team. Surmala Chanu recognised Babina’s natural ability and began training her at the local ground of Young Welfare Club, where she developed her fundamental skills and understanding of the game.
Babina’s early football development took place with Young Welfare Club, where she gained grassroots experience and exposure to competitive football in Manipur. Her performances at youth and local tournaments helped her move into more structured football environments. She later joined Kickstart FC, a club known for developing young players in Indian women’s football.
Babina eventually signed with Sethu FC, one of the prominent teams competing in the Indian Women’s League (IWL). At Sethu, she continued her development as a dynamic midfielder, gaining valuable experience against some of the strongest players in the country. Playing in the IWL has allowed Babina to refine her tactical awareness, improve her ball distribution, and adapt to the physical demands of top-level domestic competition.
She was part of the India U-15 women’s national team that competed in the SAFF Women’s Championship in 2021 in Bhutan, where she gained her first experience in international tournaments. Her progress in domestic football eventually earned her a call-up to the India senior national team training camp organised in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, ahead of the Pink Ladies Cup 2025 held in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
In February 2025, national team head coach Crispin Chettri included Babina in the final squad for the tournament. She made her senior international debut for India on 20 February 2025 against Jordan at the Al Hamriya Sports Club Stadium in Sharjah. The match marked a major milestone in her career, as she officially stepped onto the international stage representing India.
As of October 2025, Babina had earned 5 caps for the India women’s national team, continuing to establish herself within the national squad.
