Cuttack: Orissa rode on a splendid performance by striker Pyari Xaxa to enter the quarterfinals of the 23rd Senior Women’s National Football Championship after thrashing a hapless Gujarat 5-0 at the Barabati Stadium here Friday.
The Orissa eves were placed in Group G along with Gujarat and Tripura. However, with the Tripura team not turning up the pool was reduced to two teams. All the other groups had three sides and each team had to play two games to proceed to the next stage. As there was only two squads in Group G, Orissa who had routed Gujarat 10-0 in their opener, had to play the same side again.
In-form Pyari struck four goals including a hat-trick (fifth, 10th, 51st, 75th) to help the hosts register the emphatic victory. Jashmani Samad was the other scorer for the hosts, scoring in the 53rd minute.
In other matches played on the day, Pondicherry humiliated Jammu and Kashmir 15-0, Railways routed Chandigarh 7-1 and Mizoram scraped past Himachal Pradesh 3-2.
Nandabara XI clinch title
Nandabara XI emerged champions in a cricket tournament organised by Maa Dhanei Club at the Puruna Bandhagoda village under Ghasipura block in Keonjhar district.
They defeated Maa Tarakasuni side comprehensively by five wickets in the final. Batting first, Maa Tarakasuni were bowled out for paltry 88. In reply, Nandabara XI chased down the target with ease.
Maa Kichakeswari triumph
Maa Kichakeswari team emerged champions Thursday in a volleyball tournament organised by the Veer Birsa Munda Club at Khunta in Mayurbhanj district. They defeated Maa Tarini side 7-6 in a keenly contested final of the eight-team meet.
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