The Hindu : Tababi scores a hat-trick

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Mar 01, 2002

Sport

Sport - Football

Tababi scores a hat-trick
By Our Special Correspondent

KOLKATA, FEB. 28. Four goals including a hat-trick by Th. Tababi Devi enabled the holder Manipur to outclass Assam 5-0 and move into the semifinals of the 10th senior National women's football championship on Thursday. Joining Manipur at the last four knockout stage were last year's runner-up Bengal and semifinalist Bihar.

Bengal, playing its group B quarterfinal league match against Kerala at the Sports Authority of India, Eastern Centre, here struck once in each half through captain Sayanti Nandi and made sure it would travel to Siliguri where the final phase of the meet would be played.

Bihar, playing at Siliguri, defeated Tripura 3-0 to register its second win in the four-team league. After a barren first-half, Bihar struck through Annu Kumari (43rd), Putul Kumari (66th) and Kumari Swathi (71st) to win the one-sided game.

Tripura and Assam were out of contention and the two play in the last league game on Saturday for minor placing. Manipur, also with two wins, would play Bihar for the group championship on March 2.

The all-conquering Manipuri ladies should not have any problem in topping the group. Stocky Tababi Devi opened the scoring in the 12th minute against Assam. After O. Bem Bem Devi, first to be adjudged the `best woman footballer' of the year 2000-2001 by the All India Football Federation, scored the second in the 28th minute, Tababi took over hitting the target in the 60th, 65th and 78th minute to complete the hat-trick and the rout.

Bengal's cup of woe continued. The 2-0 win against Kerala meant Orissa could upstage Bengal as the group champion and avoid a meeting with Manipur in the semifinals if it could beat Kerala 3-0.

If Kerala managed to beat Orissa, it would qualify for the knockout stage as No. 2 behind Bengal. Lack of team play continued to haunt Bengal against Kerala. Bengal began with a flourish getting an early goal through Sayanti in the 11th minute. After striker Rinku Ghosh shot came off Kerala goalkeeper Sunitha P., Sayanti picked up the loose ball and drove into the net.

Kerala's ploy of disturbing the rival ball players paid dividend as the first half ended without further goals. Bengal began to use the flanks in the later half and enjoyed territorial dominance for long periods. Five minutes inside the second session, Sayanti gave Bengal 2-0 lead volleying home a Lata Ghosh lob from the left. After this success, Bengal could not translate all its good approach work into goals as sharp chances were wasted by unimaginative Bengal forwards.

The results: Group A (Siliguri): Manipur 5 (Th. Tababi Devi 4, O. Bem Bem Devi 1) bt Assam 0; Bihar 3 (Annu Kumari, Putul Kumari, Kumari Swathi) bt Tripura 0. Group B (Kolkata): Bengal 2 (Sayanti Nandi) bt Kerala 0.

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