The first edition of All Sikkim Women’s Football Tournament was kicked off at Paljor Stadium here on Wednesday.
In the inaugural match, Dzongu Girls Football Club registered a convincing 4-1 victory over Women’s Football Academy, Gyalshing. In another match of the day, Pragati Sangh, Soreng has edged past Girls Football Club, South Sikkim 2-1.
The inaugural match has international footballers, Sanju Pradhan and Nirmal Chettri as the chief guests and accompanied by SFA president Menla Ethenpa and R Ongmu women’s wing chairperson among others.
On Thursday, the first match will be played between Corinthian Girls FC, Pakyong and Soreng Girls Academy, which will be followed by another match between Himalayan Girls Football Club, Gangtok and Maneybong Dentam Girls Academy, West Sikkim.
The tournament is being organised by Women’s Wing of Sikkim Football Association and having eight teams from all four districts.
SFA president, Menla Ethenpa mentioned that the association has been organising the tournament for the first time and will be an annual event of SFA. He stated that the main objective of the tournament was the contribution towards women empowerment of Sikkim by provided them a better exposure and platform to make career in football.
He added that Anju Tamang, Lako Phuti Bhutia and other women footballers from Sikkim have already proved that there were opportunities and potentials in football for women.
“AIFF has also started the national women’s league and five women footballers from Sikkim have been playing for different clubs. So, another objective of this tournament is to spot talented footballers and organise camp for them to make SFA Women XI for the national league,” Ethenpa said.