CUTTACK 02-Feb-2016
Host Odisha emerged champions in the Sub-Junior Girls National Football Championship, defeating Manipur in the final by 2-0 goals at Barabati Stadium here today. Malati Naik starred in the victory scoring both the goals.
Organised by Football Association of Odisha (FAO), the championship, featuring 21 teams, commenced on January 17. Matches were also played at Satyabrata Stadium.
Odisha Olympic Association secretary Asirbad Behera handed over the trophy in the presence of Odisha Archerry Association secretary Sradhananda Das, Hockey Odisha secretary Pratap Satapathy, Odisha Association of Rowing & Sculling secretary Binod Dash, Odisha State Table Tennis Association secretary Rabindra Kumar Parida, Odisha Basketball Association secretary Gyana Ranjan Parida, Odisha Kabadi Association secretary Ajaya Kumar Behera and Odisha Gymnastic Association secretary Ashok Sahoo. FAO secretary Sanjay Behera congratulated the champion team for their success and announced a cash reward of Rs 50,000. But he was not present in the closing ceremony.
Earlier in the semifinals, Odisha came from behind to beat Haryana 2-1, while Manipur edged past Chandigarh by identical margin. Led by international Banya Kabiraj, Odisha qualified for the semifinals by winning all three of their Group-II quarterfinal league matches. They thrashed Telengana 6-0, Manipur 3-0 and Tamil Nadu 7-2. Overall, Odisha girls have won seven matches in a row. They earlier started campaign with a 4-0 win over Gujarat and then trounced Kerala 9-0 in Group-B league.
