SAI Training Centre, Cuttack emerged champions in the FAO Women Football League, which was organised by Football Association of Odisha (FAO) at three venues in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar from February 20 to March 9, 2019.

SAI Training Centre and Odisha Police tited for the top spot in the league table with eight points each. However, the SAI team was declared champions on better goal difference, while Odisha Police finished runners-up. The champion team will receive a cash prize of Rs 25,000 and the runners-up Rs 15,000.

The tournament was reduced from six to five teams as East Coast Railway pulled out at the eleventh hour. Sradhanjali Samantray, former captain of National Senior Women football team inaugurated the tournament in the presence of MLA Debendra Nath Sharma, FAO joint-secretary Sangeeta Sharma and eminent coach Nanda Kishore Patnaik.

RESULTS:

February 20 (Match 1): Odisha Police (Jabamani Soren 47’, Alochana Senapati 53’, Own Goal 82’, Karishma Oram 86’) beat Bidanasi Club (Manasini Bhoi 12’) 4-1.
February 22 (Match 2): SAI Training Centre (Nikita Bishi 28’) drew with Rising Student Club (Subhadra Sahu 50’) 1-1.
February 24 (Match 3): SAI Training Centre drew with Odisha Police 0-0.
February 24 (Match 4): Bidanasi Club (Jyoshna Kishan 28’, Own Goal 70’) beat Rising Student Club (Subhadra Sahu 8’) 2-1.
February 26 (Match 5): SAI Training Centre (Deepa Nayak 20’, Nikita Bishi 72’, 76’, 78’) beat Odisha Sports Hostel 4-0,
February 28 (Match 6): Odisha Sports Hostel (Sasmita Tanty 24’, Mitali Munda 25’, 76’; Diptirani Kujur 50’, Sarita Soreng 81’) beat Bidanasi Club 5-0.
March 5 (Match 7): Odisha Sports Hostel (Susmita Tanty 39’, Damayanti Tiriya 45’) beat Rising Student Club 2-0.
March 7 (Match 8): Odisha Police drew with Rising Student Club 0-0.
March 7 (Match 9): SAI Training Centre (Deepa Nayak 35’, Rashmi Jee 91’) beat Bidanasi Club 2-0.
March 9 (Match 10): Odisha Police (Alochana Senapati 89’, Satyabati Khadia 90+3’) beat Odisha Sports Hostel (Susmita Tanty 61’) 2-1.
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PHOTO: Players, guests and officials pose before the opening match of the FAO Women League in Cuttack on February 20, 2019.