Manipur wins 23rd title after beating Odisha in Senior Women’s National Championship final

Manipur wins 23rd title after beating Odisha in Senior Women’s National Championship final

Manipur’s dominance in the Senior Women’s National Football Championship continued after it defeated Odisha 1-0 in the final of the Rajmata Jijabai Trophy at the Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama Ground on Monday.

After a barren first half, defending champion Manipur made sure of taking home the trophy for the 23rd time out of the 29 editions played so far when striker Asem Roja Devi booted in the winner through a jungle of legs off a corner kick in the 55 ^th minute.

Odisha once more had to stay content with the runner-up trophy as it was the side’s sixth defeat in seven finals, all against Manipur.

Manipur, which played in the Odisha half right from the kick off, missed the opportunity to take the lead in the fifth minute when it wasted a spot kick.

A handball by Odisha defender Shibani Munda prompted referee Ruva Devi G to point at the penalty spot. Seasoned Ratanbala Devi displayed enough confidence in taking the kick, but it hit the post before coming back to play.

Odisha skipper and livewire of attacks, Pyari Xaxa, was kept under constant check by the alert Manipur defenders thus ending any chance of Odisha even making a serious dent in the rival arena.