By Tenzin Monlam
DHARAMSHALA, June 7: Hans Raj Mahilla Maha Vidyalaya (HMV) won the final of the 2nd Women’s Football Tournament today by beating DAND Football Academy (DFA) in a penalty shootout (6-5) after the match ended in a draw (1-1) at the Upper TCV football ground in Dharamshala.
The winning team from Jalandhar had to come back from a goal down having conceded an early goal. Showing lots of character, HMV’s college team scored the equalizer few minutes after conceding.
In a cagey penalty shootout, HMV’s goalkeeper denied two penalties of the team from Amritsar and most importantly the last penalty kick, which made them the champion of the second edition.
Without any Tibetan team in this year’s final, the two Tibetan teams – Tibetan School Girls’ Team and Tibetan Open Girls Team – faced off each other in an exhibition match, which the team from school won with the score line 2-0.
President of Central Tibetan Administration, Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay attended the match as the chief guest.
Tenzin Sheldon, who has played in the both the tournaments, said that Tibetan girls still has lots of room for improvement if we compare ourselves with the visiting Indian players, who have been practicing for months.
“A team has been selected and if the team is given proper training, we can beat them,” Sheldon said adding that the Tibetan girl’s teams have shown a lot of improvement.
Sharing similar thoughts, Passang Dorjee, Executive Secretary of Tibetan National Sports Association (TNSA) said that the level of Tibetan women’s football has improved by folds since it first started with over 35 girls taking part in this year’s edition.
“Despite the lack of practice time and team bonding, the girls from various Tibetan schools have competed really well against the Indian team,” he said.
Since the next edition’s timing would clash with GCMGC tournament, the head of TNSA said, “We will accommodate the women’s matches according to the fixture of GCMGC. If we are not able to accommodate, then we have plans of hosting the tournament in December next year.”
TNSA has organized the tournament in collaboration with the Tibetans Women’s Association this year.
