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XtraTime Web Desk: Proud moment for all the women footballers of the country as The All India Football Federation President Praful Patel said all players should "take inspiration" from Bala Devi, who is currently on a professional contract with Rangers, the first Indian woman footballer to do so.

Interacting with national team players across all age-groups in a video conference on Friday, the AIFF president told Bala: "We are extremely proud of your achievements. You have shown the road ahead for budding footballers, and have proved that our women footballers are no way inferior to any. I am sure you will make others - your colleagues, the U-17 women's team girls to dream too."

Bala who is currently in Glasgow said that the unprecedented exposure stints with the national team made her confident as a player. "In 2018-19 we were constantly playing, or camping. It made me more confident of my abilities as a player, and made me believe in myself. We played against so many countries including matches in Europe," she said. "Those matches helped me immensely to get myself the current club contract."

Bala's mention seemed to hint towards the women's senior team's 25 friendlies in 2018-19 season, even though Bala was not a part of the national team in most of those games.