Sunday, Mar 10, 2002
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Football
EXTENDING THE LEASE: Manipur women, who won the National football title for the fifth time in a row at Siliguri on Saturday. Standing (from left): L. Ronibala Chanu, Rk. Sulochana Devi, M. Khambi Devi, K. Pramila Devi, H. Thoi Devi, Ratan Kumar Singh (coach), N. Geetarani Devi, Sh. Rani Chanu, S. Kumari Devi, Ch. Binoshori Devi and Dr. Kh. Lala Singh. Kneeling: Geeta Devi, O. Bembem Devi, L. Chaoba Devi, W. Sachirani Devi, Sh. Shanti Devi, K. Lokeshori Devi, Kh. Maichon Devi and Th. Tababi Devi.
SILIGURI, MARCH 9. Manipur's remarkable success story in the National women's football championship continued as it won its fifth crown in a row and eighth overall (in 10 editions) at the Kanchenjunga Stadium here on Saturday. Manipur women made light work of first- time finalist Orissa with a 3-0 victory in the final. The winner led by a 34th minute goal by N. Geetarani Devis in the first half and added two more after change of ends through Th. Tababi Devi (69th) and K. Lokeshori Devi (77th). Though Manipur was superior in all departments, it found it difficult to break through the Orissa defence which refused to buckle under pressure. Manipur's inability to pierce the rival defence was seen in its previous encounter against Bengal too. With good ball control, positional play and skilful passing, Manipur moved up to the rival half but found the Orissa defenders, led by Prathama Priyadarsini, tough to beat. Despite having the ammunition to counterattack, Orissa did not do so and never put pressure on Manipur. Orissa goalkeeper Ranjita Mohanty displayed a distinct dislike for aerial balls, for she neither had a good jump nor could judge the flight of the ball. She was lucky not to concede more goals in the first half. When right back Kh. Maichon Devi overlapped and floated the ball into the box, Ranjita missed the flight but recovered to thwart Tababi Devi. After Tababi and L. Chaoba Devi missed good chances, Maichon's fine centre hit the bar and rebounded back into play. Even as N. Geetarani Devi struggled to control the ball, rightback Mamata Samanta cleared the ball in the nick of time as another opportunity went abegging for Manipur. Ranjita then saved an attempt by Geetarani but Tababi followed the loose ball and was about to place it home when Prathama dived to clear the ball. In the ensuing melee, the referee flashed the yellow card at Tababi. The first goal came via an innocuous move initiated from the right. Chaoba squared the ball to Tababi on top of the box. The latter, challenged by a defender, pushed the ball forward to Geetarani, who bulged the net beating a charging goalkeeper. Manipur struck twice in quick succession in the second session. The second goal came in the 69th minute when Tababi, the shortest of Manipur forward, headed home off a flag kick taken by Rani Chanu, and eight minutes later, K. Lokeshori Devi unleashed a 25-yard left-footer which brooked no response from Ranjita. The State sports minister, Mr. Subhas Chakraborty, and Municipal affairs minister, Mr. Ashok Bhattacharya, distributed the trophies.
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