Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Jan 11: Group A runners-up Orissa will lock-horns against Group B champions Railways in the second semifinal match of the National Senior Women’s Football Championships at Jabalpur, Wednesday.
But the match will be more of an Orissa versus Orissa affair as seven footballers in the Railway squad are Oriyas. They are Sasmita Mallick, Manisha Panna, Swarnamayee Samal, Supriya Routray, Suprava Samal, Lochan Munda and Pinki Bompal Magar. Most of these players left Orissa after the state government failed to provide them with jobs and the seven would certainly like to end on a winning note in this high-voltage encounter.
It will be the first time in which so many Oriya players will play against their own state. Sasmita, Supriya and Pinki were the members of the Railways side, which had clinched the 18th National Senior Women’s Football Championship at Bhilai in 2011. Railways have been invincible in this tournament so far and will want to continue their winning run.
On the other hand, Orissa have also performed well. They have won six matches and lost one against Manipur. Their main strikers Pyari Xaxa and Sakina Nisha are enjoying a great form.
“In spite of the presence of a number of youngsters we are a pretty balanced side,” stated Orissa coach Sarita Jayant Behera, Monday. “I am just hoping that the girls will rise to the occasion. They will playing against a team where they have some of their idols,” she added.
Powerlifters feted
Utkal Karate School and Orissa Powerlifting Association (OPA) jointly felicitated the medal- winning lifters of Orissa in the recently- concluded Subrat Classic International Powerlifting Championships at Jamshedpur, on their arrival here Monday.
Pradip Kumar Bisoi and Chandramohan Bisoi had bagged gold medals, while Om Swarup Mohanty had clinched a silver and bronze medal in the competition.
Sports Festival
Mohammedan Sporting won the inaugural game in the cricket event of the Governor’s Cup Sports Festival, which got underway at Nachuni, Monday. They beat KCC by seven runs in a keenly-contested match. In another match, JRCC defeated Extent XI by four wickets.
