Manipur sent Odihsa packing from the Junior Girls National Football Championship (Tier-1), trouncing the home team 8-0 in the second semifinal at Capital Football Arena, Bhubaneswar on 29 September 2023. Earlier in the first semifinal, Tamil Nadu beat Jharkhand 2-1 as the same venue. Manipur emerged champions, defeating Tamil Nadu in the final today.
Host Odisha qualified for the semifinals by finishing at the top of Group D with two wins and one loss. Odisha beat Kerala 1-0, Gujarat 1-0 and lost to Arunachal Pradesh 1-3. Sulekha Kanhar led the 22-member Odisha team in this championship.
Sulekha Kanhar is leading a 22-member Odisha team in this championship. A total of 16 teams are competing in this tournament. The final match will be played on September 30.
ODISHA JUNIOR GIRLS FOOTBALL TEAM:
Goalkeepers: Pranati Pati, Suprava Barik, Susmita Pun.
Defenders: Amlen Purty, Jashmini Murmu, Pratima Bangal, Purnima Swain, Sai Bhagyashree Sahoo, Sonali Sabar, Sumitra Sing.
Mid-fielders: Anita Kumbhar, Ankita Toppo, Baisakhi Dey, Priya Oram, Rubina Naik, Sulekha Kanhar.
Forwards: Priyadarshini Behera, Priyasa Sarkar, Punam Oram, Rupashri Munda, Saraswati Marandi, Sikha Malik.
Head Coach: Gitanjali Khuntia, Assistant Coach: Alochana Senapati; Goalkeeping Coach: Amrit Kumar Nayak.
ODISHA RESULTS:
September 21: Odisha (Priyasa Sarkar 90+3) beat Kerala 1-0. PoM: Priyasa Sarkar.
September 23: Odisha (Rupashree Munda 58) lost to Arunachal Pradesh (Lingdum Yaro 82, Gunailu Tawsik 85, Yumlam Lali 90) 1-3. PoM: Yumlam Lali.
September 25: Odisha (Priya Oram 85) beat Gujarat 1-0. PoM: Priya Oram.
September 28 (Semifinals): Manipur (Sarangthem Alena Devi 7, 39, Khumukcham Bhumika Devi 32, 44, 71, Kayenpaibam Anju Chanu 42, 60, Hemam Linthoi Devi 65) beat Odisha 8-0. PoM: Khumukcham Bhumika Devi.
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PHOTO: Players of Odisha State Junior Girls football team pose before their opening match in Bhubaneswar on 21 September 2023.