Cuttack: Odisha eves had to be satisfied with the runners-up finish in the Senior Women’s National Football Championship as they failed to break Manipur Jinx again and went down fighting 1-2 in a thrilling final here at the Barabati Stadium, Monday. The northeastern team had finished second best last year.
It was an evenly contested match as both the teams went for the kill right from the word go. Prayi Xaxa and Anju Tamang who were consistent performers for Odisha throughout the tournament got couple of chances in the opening half but were every time denied by the Manipuri defenders. However, the visiting side took the lead on the stroke of half-time whistle through skipper NG Bala Devi.
Irom Prameshwori Devi doubled Manipur’s lead five minutes into the second half to put more agony on the home side. Odisha did pull one back through Arati Sethi in the 81st minute but that was not enough as the Manipuri defence held their fort firm to clinch their 18th title.
Super Cup fixture
Sunshine Club will face Sunrise Club while Odisha Police will meet Rovers Club on the opening day of the FAO Super Cup, starting here Tuesday. Sports Hostel will cross swords with Rising Star Club Wednesday while Rising Student Club face Young Utkal Club later on the same day. The semifinals will be played October 5 with the final coming off October 7.
Medals galore
Odisha weightlifters performed splendidly to win a total of 15 medals including seven gold, six silver and two bronze medals in the recently-concluded National Powerlifting Championships in Lucknow.