IMPHAL 25-Mar-2010 211
Orissa finished runners-up in the 18th Senior Women`s National football Championship when they lost to host Manipur by a solitary goal in the final at Khuman Lampak Main Stadium in Imphal today. Y Kamala Devi scored the all-important goal in the eighth minute to help defending champions Manipur retain the trophy.
This was 14th time that Manipur emerged champions in apex domestic championship. They have also finished runners-up thrice. Out of the 17 times the Senior National championship was held, West Bengal won the title three times and finished runners up 10 times. This was the third time that Orissa satisfied themselves with the runners-up trophy. Their earlier two final defeats occured in 2002 and 2008. Besides these three states, Kerala has claimed the runners-up prize once in 2006. The Senior Women`s National Championship was first held in the year 1992. The championship could not be conducted once in 1994.
In the 18th edition of the championship, Orissa played seven matches, won six and lost one. They scored a total of 53 goals and coceded only two. Sradhanjali Samantaray led the Odisha team in the championship.
Orissa squad: Goalkeepers: Sita Sharma, Prashanti Pradhan, Swaryanamayee Samal; Defenders: Suprava Samal, Alochana Senapati, Gitanjali Khuntia, Rashmita Patra, Sushree Sangita Mallick, Sumitra Munda, Santi Xalxo; Mid-fielders: Sradhanjali Samantray, Gayatri Mallick, Supriya Routray, Priyanka Sahoo; Forwards: Sasmita Mallick, Jhili Munda, Pinky Bompal Magar, Janjali Sahoo, Sangita Patra, Gomati Bara. Officials: Nanda Kishore Patnaik (coach), K P Sinha (Manager); Anita Sahoo (asst manager).
ORISSA RESULTS:
Preliminary league: Beat Rajasthan 29-0 (Pinky Bompal Magar 9, Sasmita Mallick 8, Sradhanjali Samantaray 3, Gitanjali Khuntia 2, Suprava Samal 2, Janjali Sahoo 1, Supriya Routray 1, Rashmita Patra 1, Alochana Senapati 1, Gomati Bara 1), beat Karnataka 6-1 (Sasmita Mallick 3, Sradhanjali Samantaray 1, Pinky Bompal Magar 1, Supriya Routray 1).
Quarterfinal league: Beat Assam 8-0 (Pinky Bompal Magar 4, Sradhanjali Samantaray 2, Sasmita Mallick 1, Suprava Samal 1), beat Haryana 5-0 (Sasmita Mallick 5), beat Bengal 2-0 (Pinky Bompal Magar 1, Sasmita Mallick 1).
Semifinals: Beat Tamil Nadu 3-0 (Sasmita Mallick 3, Jhili Munda 1).
Final: Lost to Manipur 0-1.
GOAL SCORERS: Sasmita Mallick emerged Orissa`s top scorer with 21 goals, followed by Pinky Bompal Magar (15), Sradhanjali Samantaray (6), Suprava Samal (3), Gitanjali Khuntia (2), Supriya Rout (2), Rashmita Patra (1), Alochana Senapati (1), Gomati Bara (1), Janjali Sahoo (1).
