Assam Rifles organised first-ever Women’s Football Tournament across all states of North East

Shillong (Meghalaya) [India], July 13 (ANI): Assam Rifles organized the first-ever Assam Rifles Annual Women’s Football Tournament for teams across all the states of North East.

Seven women’s football teams from Meghalaya, Assam, Nagaland, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Assam Rifles voluntarily participated in the tournament. The first phase of the tournament was conducted at Lokra in Assam. Branded as the Sentinels Cup in line with Sobriquet of Assam Rifles ‘Sentinels of the North East’.

The semifinals were played between teams of Assam Rifles and Nagaland and the second semi-final was between teams from Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. The final was contested between teams from Assam Rifles and Arunachal Pradesh.

The Sentinels Cup commenced on June 30 at the Lokra, Assam with an opening ceremony graced by the Governor of Assam Gulab Chand Kataria. Each match of the tournament was keenly contested with competitive sportspersons’ spirit. The tournament saw ups and downs in team positions with some fiercely contested close games. The best two teams competed for the final match. The event is being sponsored by the State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, Yes Bank and Induslnd Bank.

The final of the Sentinel Cup was played between teams of Assam Rifles and Arunachal Pradesh. The team from Arunachal Pradesh emerged winners after a nail-biting keenly contested match that ran into extra time. The event was graced by Lt Gen P C Nair, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, and DG Assam Rifles.

Assam Rifles, the Force which prides itself in being ‘Friends of the North East’ is promoting sports as an instrument for motivating the youth to stay away from insurgency and drugs and also to identify the abundant talent of North East for future growth.

Assam Rifles also has an MoU with the Bhaichung Bhutia Football Academy in its residential Assam Rifles Public School (Sports) for tapping the football talent of the North East with the intent of boosting Government of India Initiatives of Khelo India Abhiyan and Fit India Movement.