| RITUPALLAB SAIKIA | ||
| Women’s football | ||
Golaghat, May 12: Fifteen times
champion Manipur regained the title in the 20th Senior National Women’s
Football Tournament, beating defending champions Odisha 3-1 in the final
at Golaghat District Sports Association ground here today.
Manipur, considered the women’s football
powerhouse of the country, maintained dominance throughout the match
right from the word go. They took an early lead in the third minute with
striker Ng Bala Devi converting a brilliant pass from the midfield.
Bembem Devi increased the lead with another goal in the 20th minute.
Manipur maintained the lead with the opposition failing to break the ice
in the first half.
The lead was consolidated by Ng Bala Devi with her second goal in the 55th minute.
Odisha failed to capitalise on a few
opportunities which came their way. Though they managed to invade the
Manipur territory on a few occasions, poor finishing let them down.
However, Sakina Nesa finally managed to return one goal to reduce the margin to 1-3 in the final minute of the match.
Bala Devi was adjudged the best player of the match.
Odisha had defeated Jharkhand 3-0 while Manipur crushed Delhi 7-0 in the semi-finals on Saturday.
The prize distribution ceremony was
attended by president of Assam Football Association Hemendra Nath
Brahma, secretary Ankur Dutta, director of the national team, Subhankar
Mukherjee, manager of senior women’s national team Indu Choudhury and
Golaghat superintendent of police Shiladitya Chetia, among others.
Talking to The Telegraph, Tarun
Roy, coach of Indian junior men’s football team-cum-selector for Indian
senior women’s team, said six national selectors, deployed in the meet,
have selected a total of 50 players from the tournament to select the
national team for the Asian Games. The camp of the selected players is
likely to be held in Siliguri, he added.
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