Diphu, May 11: Manipur restored its status as the top State in women's football at the national level by clinching the title of the 4th Girls (U-17) Sub-Junior National Football Championship with a comfortable 2-0 defeat of defending champion Orissa at Diphu, Assam today.

having won the championship titles in 2003 at Tamil Nadu and 2004 in Dingdigul of Orissa, Manipur lost the final of the previous edition in 2006 (Chandigarh) to Orissa before avenging the defeat today and reaffirming its position as a force to reckon with.

Orissa, who had been making significant progress in the competition in recent years and given Manipur some tough times lived upto its newly found reputation by defying manipur for nearly half an hour before a sloppy clearance by custodian Padmabati Das enabled N Monteshori Chanu to crack the opening score.

A solo run down the right flank by Y chandrajini saw Ksh Naocha receive the ball and shoot at the opponent citadel which was palmed out by Padmabati but only upto Monteshori who made no mistake in finding the target in the 30th minute.

The scorer turned provider as her cross to E Bindyashori was converted into goal 58 minutes into the game which brought a vociferous crowd of almost 10,000 into ruptures.

majority of the spectators that thronged at the venue from the nearby towns of Hojai, Manja and Diphu proper where manipuri population is substantial, backed eventual champions.

The 12th goal by Bindyashori also won her the 'best player of the championship' title carrying a cash award of Rs 2000 .

In the third place play-off between Tamil nadu and Mizoram played earlier in the day, the former won at 2-0.The southern State was also declared the 'best discipline team' of the competition, also carrying a cash award of Rs 2000.In the double-leg cluster round matches Manipur defeated Chandigarh 19-0 and 17-0 before advancing into the last four stage with a resounding 6-0 thrashing of Goa, trounced Kerala 11-0 and Mizoram 6-0 in quarter final league ties.

In the semi final, Manipur edged out Tamil Nadu by a solitary goal.

The championship hosted by Karbi Anglong Sports Association under the aegis of Assam Football Association and All India Football Association since April 25 was participated by teams from 22 States.

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