BHUBANESWAR 23-Mar-2011 398
Indian women’s football team, comprising seven players from Orissa, failed to book its place in the final round of the Asian qualifiers for the 2012 London Olympics when they lost to Uzbekistan 5-1 in a play-off at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka today.
India drew first blood with Bembem Devi scoring in the 41st minute. But the Uzbeks came back strongly to score five goals in the second half. Earlier yesterday, the two teams played 1-1 draw to tie for the top spot with four points each. The play-off, thus became necessary to determine the group winners. India started their campaign with a 3-0 win over host Bangladesh, while Uzbekistan too thrashed Bangladesh by identical margin.
Meanwhile, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) announced a cash reward of Rs.50, 000 for each member of the women’s team for bagging the gold medal in South Asian Games held in Bangladesh last year from January 29 to February 8 and for winning the 1st SAFF Women’s Football Championship which was also in Bangladesh from December 12 to 23.
Altogether six players from Orissa and coach Mohammad Saheed Jabbar represented Indian in the SAFF championship. Players included top scorer Sasmita Mallick, Pinky Bompal Magar, Gayatri Mallick, Sita Sharma, Alochana Senapati and Suprava Samal.
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PHOTO: Indian women`s football tournament at the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Dhaka.
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