women's football

Imphal, Oct 11: Manipur duly retained their National Games women’s football crown with the aid of using beating Odisha 2-0 in the final at the Eka Arena Transstadia under floodlights here on Monday. Both goals came in the first half.

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh who is also an Ex-Footballer congratulate the team. He shared a post on Twitter and wrote that “Hearty congratulations to the Manipur Women’s Football team on winning the Gold in National Games 2022. Your hard work, perseverance, and determination have paid off and made us extremely proud today. Keep up the great work.”

It changed into a facile and anticipated win for the North Eastern nation who’ve been dominating the National championships in current years.

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Coached by the legendary midfielder Oinam Bembem Devi and led with the aid of using ace India ahead Ngangom Bala Devi, Manipur hooked up an early stranglehold over the proceedings. Bala Devi changed into the fulcrum of Manipur’s attacking movements as she attempted to install the offensive motion together along with her experience.

It changed into ordinarily one-manner site visitors towards the Odisha aim with the 4 Manipur forwards peppering the rival goal with a sequence of tries. Rival custodian Spandita Das optimistically treated the law pictures at the same time as a few sailed over the crossbar or flew out of doors the posts. Manipur may also now no longer capitalize on the succession of flag kicks they earned.

Attired in all red, the champions were given their step forward withinside the tenth minute while Bala Devi, who attempted to get herself into scoring positions together along with her twists and turns, discovered the mark with a shot from in the field that brooked no preventing from Spandita Das.

International midfielder N. Ratanbala Devi, who seems for Gokulam Kerala withinside the Indian Women’s League, doubled the lead withinside the 36 minutes while she bulged the internet with a stiff grounder from a distance, the organizers knowledgeable in a launch on Monday.

Coached with the aid of using former Mohun Bagan participant Crispin Chettri, Odisha showed greater resolve and cohesion in the second half and manages some long-rangers. They earned some corners which they couldn’t flip to account. Though captain and vital defender Manisa Panna attempted to rally her troops, Odisha lacked a unique participant who ought to make a distinction on the pitch.

Late in the game, however, the Odisha assault sprang alive. Pyari Xaxa and replacement Satyabati Khadia pressured Manipuri goalkeeper ML Devi to flavor a few motions. She changed into identical to the task. Manipur then efficaciously ran down the clock to take the name returned home.