BHUBANESWAR 10-Sep-2011 164
Orissa striker Sasmita Mallik was today named the captain of Indian women football team for a three-match friendly series gainst Bahrain in Bahrain later this month. According to head coach Mohammad Shahid Jabbar the Indian team is scheduled to leave for Bahrain on September 15 and play the three international friendlies on September 17th, 20th and 23rd. said from the training camp at Lucknow, where 43 probables have been preparing for the ensuing tour.
``Sasmita is an exceptional talent. She is an all-rounder and plays aggressive football. Under her leadership India is sure to improve its international standard in women`s football,`` described Bhubaneswar Sports Hostel coach Bijay Kuamr Kanungo, under whose guidance Sasmita honed her skill for nine years before joining East Central Railway three months ago.
Twenty-two-year-old Sasmita, who hails from Goudapatana village of Kendrapara district, fell in love with football at the age of 11 when she went with her father Yudhisthir Mallik to watch a local tournament. Since then, she has never looked back. Her love for the game made her one of the most potent strikers in the annals of women’s football in the country.
During her nine-year-old illustrious career, Sasmita helped Orissa clinch a golden double by emerging champions in both the National Games and Senior National Championship this year. In the National championship at Bhilar, she emerged top scorer with 14 goals.
In the international arena, Sasmita played instrumental role in India winning the inaugural SAFF Women`s Football Championship and 11th South Asian Games Women’s Football Tournament in Dhaka last year. Scoring four goals against Kyrgyzstan in a junior international match at New Delhi in 2006 remains her best performance for the country till date.
After Sradhanjali Samantaray, Sasmita will be the second woman footballer from Orissa to lead the country. With half a dozen Orissa players likely to be included in the Indian team and the head coach Jabbar also being from Orissa, Sasmita is sure to find additional confidence to lead India from the front against Bahrain.
``Everyone dreams of leading the country. I am lucky in that sense. The matches are of utmost importance. We will try our best to win them at any cost,`` said a determined Sasmita, who idolises Bhaichung Bhutia and Lionel Messi.
