Dibrugarh winners
Dibrugarh District Sports Association members with the winners' trophy at Bhergaon in Udalguri district on Sunday. Image credit - Northeast Now

The Dibrugarh District Sports Association lifted the title of the Khirod Baruah Memorial 67th Inter-District Senior Football Championship at Bhergaon in Udalguri district near Mangaldai on Sunday.

Dibrugarh District Sports Association defeated Tinsukia by a solitary goal.

In the keenly contested final match played in the Bhergaon High School playground, Dibrugarh in white jersey got the golden goal through a penalty kick just three minutes before the final whistle.

Striker Milan Basumatary converted the penalty kick after referee spotted Tinsukia stopper Bitupan Moran obstructing opponent’s forward Firujit Dahotiya from behind within the penalty box.

Earlier, in the 77th minute of the match, Firudan Barglary of the winners had to leave the field after the referee showed red card for dangerous play.

The match witnessed attacks and counter-attacks from both the ends but strikers missed several scoring opportunities much to the frustration of their supporters.

With this win, Dibrugarh annexed the Khirod Baruah trophy along with a cash prize of Rs 15,000 while Tinsukia bagged the runners-up trophy besides cash prize of Rs 10,000.

After the match, Daneswar Gayari, executive member, Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), sports and youth welfare, in presence of several prominent guests including deputy speaker, BTC; Neson Boro, general secretary of Assam Football Association (AFA); Hemendra Brahma, vice-president of AFA Lakhshi Ram Boro and veteran sports organiser Biren Medhi among others.

The final match was conducted by Nirmal Bhattacharjee as the referee while Elias Musahary and Dwisong Basumatary assisted him in the lines.

A souvenir published on the occasion was also released before the match.

Mayukh Goswami is Northeast Now Correspondent in Mangaldai. He can be reached at: [email protected]