Bichu Devi Kharibam is an Indian field hockey player who serves as a goalkeeper for the India women’s national team. A talented and composed shot-stopper from Manipur, she emerged as one of the country’s most promising goalkeeping talents and the long-time understudy to the legendary Savita Punia, gradually establishing herself as a key member of the national setup. A member of the India squad that achieved a historic Asian Games gold medal in 2026, she represents the exciting next generation of Indian hockey goalkeepers and has become an important figure in the team’s success.
Bichu Devi Kharibam Biography, Wiki
| Field | Details |
| Full Name | Bichu Devi Kharibam |
| Date of Birth | 3 December 2000 |
| Age (2026) | 25 years |
| Birthplace | Manipur, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Zodiac Sign | Sagittarius |
| Sport | Field hockey |
| Position | Goalkeeper |
| National Team | India women’s hockey team |
| Club (HIL) | SG Pipers |
| Notable | Asian Games gold medallist (2026) |
Bichu Devi Kharibam Details
| Area | Detail |
| Origin | A hockey talent from Manipur |
| Switch | Began in football before switching to hockey |
| Youth | Represented India at youth level |
| Position | A goalkeeper for the national team |
| Role | Developed alongside Savita Punia |
| 2026 | Part of the Asian Games gold-winning team |
Bichu Devi Kharibam Events
| Year | Event |
| 3 December 2000 | Born in Manipur, India |
| Early career | Switched from football to hockey goalkeeping |
| 2018 | Represented India at the Youth Olympics |
| Senior career | Became a national-team goalkeeper |
| 2026 | Named in India’s World Cup and Asian Games squads |
| October 2026 | Won Asian Games gold with India |
| 2026 | Helped secure 2028 Olympic qualification |
Bichu Devi Kharibam Early Life
Bichu Devi Kharibam was born on 3 December 2000 in Manipur, a state in north-east India renowned for producing outstanding sportspeople. Interestingly, she began her sporting journey as a football player before switching to hockey, where she found her calling as a goalkeeper. Although she was initially reluctant about the position, she came to love the sport and the unique demands of goalkeeping. Her natural talent, reflexes and dedication saw her rise quickly through the age-group ranks, marking her out as a goalkeeper of considerable promise for Indian hockey.
Also Read: Savita Punia Biography
Bichu Devi Kharibam Hockey Career
Bichu Devi Kharibam’s Rise Through the Ranks
Bichu Devi Kharibam made her mark at the junior and youth levels before progressing to the senior national team. She represented India at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics, where she performed well and gained valuable international experience as a young goalkeeper. Her strong performances in junior and development competitions earned her recognition as an exciting prospect, and she was integrated into the senior setup, where she began to accumulate international caps and establish herself as a dependable option in goal for India.
Bichu Devi Kharibam and the National Team
Bichu Devi Kharibam developed into a key member of the India women’s hockey team’s goalkeeping unit, serving as the principal understudy and partner to the vastly experienced Savita Punia. Learning alongside one of the world’s best goalkeepers, she honed her technical skills, her decision-making and her defensive organisation through national camps and specialised training, and she steadily increased her tally of senior caps. Her growth gave India valuable depth and reassurance in a crucial position, and she was consistently selected for the team’s major assignments.
Bichu Devi Kharibam’s Major Achievements
Bichu Devi Kharibam was part of the India squads for major tournaments in 2026, including the FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup and the Asian Games. The highlight of her career came at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan, where she was part of, and featured in goal for, the India team that won a historic gold medal, defeating China 1-0 in the final. The triumph ended a 44-year wait for an Asian Games gold in women’s hockey and secured India’s direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, a landmark moment in the country’s hockey history.
Bichu Devi Kharibam’s Playing Style
Bichu Devi Kharibam is known as an agile, composed and technically sound goalkeeper. Her game is built on her sharp reflexes, her positioning and her ability to remain calm under pressure, qualities essential for a hockey goalkeeper facing fierce drag-flicks and penalty corners. Having developed alongside and learned from the experience of Savita Punia, she has refined the defensive and tactical aspects of her game, and she has shown the temperament and ability to perform in high-stakes situations, making her a valuable asset for the national team.
Bichu Devi Kharibam Personal Life
Bichu Devi Kharibam hails from Manipur, a region with a strong sporting culture that has produced many of India’s finest athletes. Her journey, from starting out in football to becoming a national-team hockey goalkeeper, reflects her adaptability and her determination. She has generally kept her personal life private, focusing her public identity on her hockey career and her development as an athlete. Her rise is seen as an inspiration for young players from the north-east and across India who aspire to represent the country.
Bichu Devi Kharibam Height and Physical Profile
Bichu Devi Kharibam’s public identity rests on her goalkeeping ability and her achievements rather than on physical details. As a goalkeeper, her agility, reflexes, bravery and mental composure are the defining attributes of her game, qualities that have made her a rising star in her position for the national team.
Bichu Devi Kharibam Net Worth and Earnings
A reliably verified figure for Bichu Devi Kharibam’s net worth is not part of the public record, and this profile does not put forward one. Her income derives from her career as a professional hockey player, including her role with the national team, her participation in the Hockey India League, and government and federation rewards for her achievements. Because no credible, verified financial figure is available, none is asserted here.
| Source | Detail |
| Net worth | Not reliably documented |
| Main income sources | Her hockey career, league play and rewards |
Bichu Devi Kharibam Social Media
Bichu Devi Kharibam has a growing public presence connected to her hockey career, and news about her is reported through Hockey India and the sports media, particularly following the national team’s recent successes.
| Platform | Handle | Notes |
| Under her own name | Career and personal content | |
| Public information | Hockey India and sports media | How news about her is reported |
Bichu Devi Kharibam Controversies
No controversy involving Bichu Devi Kharibam surfaced in the material examined for this profile. Coverage of her has focused on her goalkeeping, her development alongside Savita Punia, and her role in the India team’s historic Asian Games gold medal.
Lesser Known Facts About Bichu Devi Kharibam
- She was born in Manipur in 2000.
- She began her sporting career in football before switching to hockey.
- She was initially reluctant about playing in goal.
- She represented India at the 2018 Youth Olympics.
- She developed as the understudy to Savita Punia.
- She plays for SG Pipers in the Hockey India League.
- She won Asian Games gold with India in 2026.
Bichu Devi Kharibam FAQ
Who is Bichu Devi Kharibam?
She is an Indian field hockey goalkeeper who plays for the India women’s national team and is an Asian Games gold medallist.
How old is Bichu Devi Kharibam?
Born on 3 December 2000, she is 25 years old in 2026.
What position does Bichu Devi Kharibam play?
She is a goalkeeper for the India women’s hockey team.
What is Bichu Devi Kharibam known for?
She is known as a rising goalkeeping talent, the understudy to Savita Punia, and a member of India’s 2026 Asian Games gold-winning team.
Where is Bichu Devi Kharibam from?
She is from Manipur, India.
Did Bichu Devi Kharibam win an Asian Games gold?
Yes, she was part of the India team that won a historic gold medal in women’s hockey at the 2026 Asian Games.
What sport did Bichu Devi Kharibam play first?
She began her sporting career in football before switching to hockey and becoming a goalkeeper.
Which club does Bichu Devi Kharibam play for?
She plays for SG Pipers in the Hockey India League.
Did Bichu Devi Kharibam play at the Youth Olympics?
Yes, she represented India at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics.
Why is the 2026 Asian Games gold significant?
It ended a 44-year wait for India in women’s hockey and secured direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Sources
Hockey India, Indian Women Hockey Goalkeepers Hail Special Goalkeeping Camp,
https://www.hockeyindia.org/news/indian-women-hockey-goalkeepers-hail-special-goalkeeping-camp
Olympics.com, India’s FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup 2026 team – full squad,
https://www.olympics.com/en/news/india-fih-hockey-women-world-cup-2026-team-squad-players-full-list
IANS, Asian Games: ‘All the hard work has paid off today,’ says Bichu Devi on historic hockey gold,
https://ianslive.in/asian-games-all-the-hard-work-has-paid-off-today-says-bichu-devi-on-historic-hockey-gold–20261002221240
FIH, India Women’s Hockey Team,
https://www.fih.hockey/events/fih-hockey-worldcup-belgium-netherlands-2026/teams/women/india-1867-162