Cuttack-based Rising Student Club qualified for the Final Round of the 2nd AIFF Women’s League after holding Sethu FC of Tamil Nadu to 1-1 draw in their fifth and last match of the Qualifying Competition at Rajarshi Stadium in Kolhapur (Maharashtra) today.

Rising Student capped their campaign with three outright wins, one walk-over and one draw. International striker Pyari Xaxa was the star of the Rising Student team, scoring as many as 10 goals including three hat-tricks. The final phase of the IWL will take place in March 2018.

Earlier, Rising Student hammered J&K State Sports Council 8-0, got walk-over against Capital Complex Sporting Club of Arunachal Pradesh, beat Indira Gandhi Academy for Sports & Education (Puducherry) 4-1 and Baroda Football Academy 13-0.

A total of 13 teams vied for two coveted spots in the six-team Final Round. Eastern Sporting Union from Manipur were last year`s champions and Rising Studnet Club runners-up. Other 11 teams in the Qualifiers were: Sethu FC (Tamil Nadu), Chandney Sporting Club (West Bengal), Indira Gandhi Academy for Sports & Education (Pondicherry), United Warriors Sporting Club (Punjab), Capital Complex Sporting Club (Arunachal Pradesh), Baroda Football Academy (Gujarat), KRYPSHA (Manipur), Hans Women’s Football Club (Delhi), J&K State Sports Council (Jammu & Kashmir), Rush Soccer (Maharashtra) and the SAI Women Football Team.

The teams were divided into two groups with the qualifiers ending on December 8 after which the top side from each group will be the ones to make it to the Final Round. International Suprava Samal led the 18-member Rising Student team in the Qualifiers. They had many more internationals in their rank including former India captain Sasmita Malik and star forward Pyari Xaxa.

RISING STUDENT’S CLUB:
Goalkeepers: Tikina Samal, Rajashree Das
Defenders: Sasmita Swain, Suprava Samal, Manisha Panna, Rachita Malik, Jabamani Tudu, Parbati Kujur, Jyoshna Malik, Runi Nayak
Mid-fielders: Lochana Munda, Sinulata Sahoo, Satyabati Khadia
Forwards: Sasmita Malik, Deepa Nayak, Jasmani Samad, Subhadra Sahu, Pyari Xaxa
Coach: Gitanjali Khuntia; Manager: Sultana Parween

RESULTS:
Nov 25: Rising Student Club (Pyari Xaxa 12th, 16th, 35th; Jashmani Samad 14th, 43rd; Subhadra Sahu 1st, Suprava Samal 19th, Sinulata Sahoo 75th) beat Kerala 8-0. Player of the match: Pyari Xaxa.
Nov 27: Rising Student Club beat Capital Complex Sporting Club (walk-over).
Nov 29: Rising Student Club (Pyari Xaxa 16th, 45th, 72nd; Suprava Samal 56th) beat Indira Gandhi Academy for Sports and Education 4-1. PoM: Manisha Panna.
Dec 1: Rising Student Club (Manisha Panna 37, 66, 85; Jabamani Tudu 80, Jasmani Samad 15, 34; Pyari Xaxa 10, 31, 73; Lochona Munda 3, 88; Jyosna Malik 72, Deepa Nayak 69) beat Baroda Football Academy 13-0. PoM: Pyari Xaxa.
Dec 3: Rising Student (Pyari Xaxa 47) drew with Sethu FC (Madhuri Sumithra R 49) 1-1. PoM: Subhadra Sahu.