6th Khelo India Youth GamesManipur off to flying start in Girls' Football, Mangalleibi wins fencing silver

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jan 22 : Manipur got off to a flying start in the Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) Girls Football which kicked off today at Madras University ground in Chennai.
The State girls notched up a commanding 8-0 win over Chhattisgarh to kick off their Group A campaign courtesy a treble from L Rejia and doubles from Ipham Romina and O Babita.
Ipham Romina opened the scoring 8 minutes into the game and added her second in the 44th minute to hand Manipur a 2-0 first half lead.
The State girls continued to toy around Chhattisgarh defence after the break as well and saw O Babita and M Sanjana taking their turns to add a goal each in the 50th and the 53rd minute before L Rejia hit the team's fifth goal in the 69th minute.
As Chhattisgarh girls remained clueless despite conceding five goals, O Babita struck her second goal in the 84th minute before L Rejia quick-fired two goals, one at the stroke of the 90th minute mark and another three minutes into the added time,  to complete the 8-0 demolition.
Manipur will play Delhi in the next match on January 24 before facing Jharkhand on January 26. Top two teams from the group will advance to the semi-finals.  
Fencing : After K Abhinash bagged a gold medal in the foil competition yesterday, Manipur's T Mangalleibi added another medal to State's fencing tally by securing a silver medal today in the girls' individual sabre event.
Boxing : After Elangbam Thoicha, Thokchom Supriya, Leichombam Laming and Mayengbam Henthoi secured their semi-final berths in girls boxing, State boxer Moirangthem Chinglemba too made it to the semi-final to boost Manipur's medal prospect.
Chinglemba, competing in the boys 63 kg category, pulled off a 4-3 win over Assamese rival J Ahmad in a quarter final bout.