By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Nov 1 : The East Zone Inter University Women's Football Tournament 2024-25 hosted by the National Sports University (NSU), Imphal kicked off today at four different venues in Imphal.
The formal opening function was held at Khuman Lampak Main Stadium in the presence of Professor Usha S Nair, Vice Chancellor (Officiating), NSU as chief guest; Dr L Dibamani Singh, Registrar, National Sports University and T Phulen, Director, Youth Affairs and Sports as guests of honour alongside Olympian and Padmashree N Kunjarani; Kh Sarma Devi, Commandant of 9th IRB Mahila Bn; Padmashree O Bembem, former National Women's Football coach; Laijing L Maring, Assistant Director (P&A), SAI-NERC, Takyel; L Chaoba, former National Women's Football coach as special guests.
The opening daw saw 6-teams viz- Pt Ravishankar Shukla University; Rajiv Gandhi University, Arunachal Pradesh; Burdwan University; Manipur University; Sidho Kanho Birsha University and Dhanamanjuri University earning walkover wins as their rival university teams did not turn up.
Meanwhile, four matches were completed in which Tripura University, Utkal University, University of Calcutta and Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherji University emerged victorious to advance to the second round of the preliminary round competition along with the walkover winners.
At RCC Ground No 2, Tripura University set up a second round clash with Nagaland University who got a first round bye, by defeating Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith 1-0.
The lone goal that settled the game was scored by Rupashri Debbarma in the 43rd minute.
At RCC Ground No 3, Utkal University edged Hemchand Yadav Vishwavidyalaya 5-4 on penalties after a goalless draw in the regulation time.
With the win, Utkal University set up a second round clash with Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bihar University, who got a first round bye.
In the 8th match of the tournament staged this afternoon at Main Stadium, University of Calcutta romped 5-0 past Shaheed Mahendra Karma Vishwavidyalaya to set up a second round clash with Sant Gahira Guru Vishwavidyalaya, who got a first round bye.
Kanika Sunfui (20', 39') and Dipika Naskar (30+1', 41') scored two goals apiece in this one sided win for University of Calcutta before Neha Mondal hit the decisive goal in the 52nd minute.
At RCC Ground No 2, Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherji University outlasted Vinoba Bhave University 6-0 to set up a second round date with Manipur University who received a walkover against Jai Prakash University in the first round today.
Priya Baxla (22', 39') led the scoring for Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherji University finding the net twice as Suniti Soren (17'), Soni Munda (42'), Anjani Kumar (44') and Priya Kumar (51') added a goal apiece.