India squandered an opportunity to advance to the second round of the Asian U-16 Girls Football Championship (Group-B Qualifiers) as they were held to a 1-1 draw in the their fourth and last match against Laos at MFF Stadium in Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia today.

Laos qualified for the second round with 10 points from four matches, while India settled with seven points from four games. Earlier, India beat Hong Kong 6-1 and Pakistan 4-0, but lost to host Mongolia 1-2. Forward Shilky Devi led the 22-member Indian team, which included two from Odisha _ Jyoti Kumari and Sarita Soreng.

INDIA U-16 WOMEN TEAM:
Goalkeepers: Anshika, Anjali Bakra, Manisha. Defenders: Kavita, Sarita Soreng, Ritu Devi, Aryashree Shaju, Pinku Devi. Mid-fielders: Kritrina Devi, Poonam, Kiran, Avika Singh, Varsha, Priyanka Pottekkat. Forwards: Vunglawm Ching, Priyanka Devi, Shilky Devi, Lynda Kom, Anju, Jyoti Kumari, Mmehak Lobo, Sunita Munda. Head coach: Firmin D’Souza, Assistant coach: Bembem Devi.

RESULTS:
September 15: India (Sunita Munda 23’, Shilky Devi 35’, 50’; Lynda Kom 43’,73’,89’) beat Hong Kong 6-1.
September 19: India (Avika Singh 22’, Ayesh 41’-OG, Sunita Munda 82’, Shilky Devi 88’) beat Pakistan 4-0.
September 21: India (Aveka Singh 6`) lost to Mongolia (Gantumur Temuulen 29`, Gurragchaa Khulangoo 70`) 1-2.
September 23: India (Aveka Singh 18`) drew with Laos (Pe 82’) 1-1.
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PHOTO: India U-16 women team pose before their second match against Pakistan on Sept 19, 2018.