Haryana girls beat Nagaland, social biases to lift U-17 Subroto Cup

'Gone are those days when a girl from our state is supposed to get married at a younger age and spend the rest of her life struggling in the kitchen. Football has been spurring life amongst Haryana girls'

There could not have been a better advertisement for Women's Football than fostering a football powerhouse from the particular state of India which had a smudged history of gender inequality.

Following Sakshi Malik's heroics in Rio 2016, Haryana’s young girls showed their mettle to win the Subroto Cup Trophy for the third time in a row.

A 52nd-minute goal by Anay Bai helped Girls Senior Secondary School, Alakhpura (Bhiwani) defeat Sports School, Kohima, 1-0 to lift the U-17 junior girls trophy in the 57th Subroto Cup International Football tournament at the Dr. Ambedkar Stadium in New Delhi on Monday.

“The girls have been bustling with confidence and they have proved their worth," Haryana’s eloquent coach Sonika Vijarania said after her wards got the better of Nagaland in the final.

On being asked whether this win could instigate more girls to take up football seriously, she quipped back, “Why not? It’s not just about this team. We have also reached the National finals in U-19 age level. Gone are those days when a girl from our state is supposed to get married at a younger age and spend the rest of her life struggling in the kitchen. Football has been spurring life amongst Haryana girls.”

The Haryana girls smacked more than 30 goals in this edition of Subroto Cup and conceded none.

Nisha, who was adjudged as the 'Best Player of the Tournament,’ admitted the triumph in Subroto Cup helped her heal the wounds of the Team’s loss to Manipur in the final match of the U-19 Nationals.

“The loss to Manipur in Cuttack hurt us a lot. This win provides some solace. We had come here as the defending champions and by God's grace, we are going back with the title. We are thrilled,” she said in one breath.

Sonika tagged the win as a 'motivational booster' for the Haryana-born girls ahead of the forthcoming Women's Football League.

 "The league (Women's Football League) can change the dimension of Women's football in our country. This victory gives the girls the much-needed confidence ahead of the inception of the Women's League. Surely, the league is going to be a huge boost for Women's Football in coming days,” he maintained.

The prelims of the inaugural edition of the Women’s League kicks-off on October 17 in Cuttack.