Shradhanjali hat-tricks in Orissa win

Former India captain Shradhanjali Samantaray`s hat-trick helped Orissa start their campaign on a rousing note, pulverising Tripura 5-0 in a league match of the 17th Senior National Women’s Football Championship at Neyveli, Tamil Nadu today. The scintilating performance proved that lanky Shradha has lost none of her skills becase of an injury-forced lay off. Complementing captain Shradha`s three goals, Orissa`s next top player Pinky Bompal Magars scored a brace to complete the comprehensive win for the team. The margin of victory would have been bigger had Orissa not missed half a dozen scoring chances, including a penalty kick by Gitanjali Khuntia. Orissa next meet Uttar Pradesh on March 4.