Radhika's double hat-trick as TN trounce Jharkhand

Chandigarh, July 10 (UNI) Defending champions Manipur, runners-up Orissa, strong contenders Tamil Nadu and Haryana kicked off their campaign on a confident note having scored easy victories in their opening cluster matches in the third Junior National Women Football Championship for Under-17 here today.

In the evening session, Haryana trounced Chattisgarh by 5-1 in a cluster D fixture. Dominating the proceedings, Haryana owed their triumph to Meenakshi who pumped in three goals. Diksha gave Meenakshi full support by scoring a brace (5th and 19th minutes).

The lone goal for Chattisgar was scored by Neha Nishad who netted in the 44th minute.

In cluster C, well-balanced Tamil Nadu gave a soccer lesson to Jharkhand whom they beat by 7-1. The highlight of the match was a brilliant hat-trick by Radhika who scored six goals. She scored four goals in a row -- 40th, 42nd, 55th and 72nd. Her other goals came in the 27th and 35th minutes. Vidhyawati contributed one goal in the 37th minute. The lone goal for Jharkhand was netted by Namlin Sanga in the 79th minute.

Earlier, holders Manipur and runners-up Orissa served stern warning to their respective opponents by recording thumping victories in their respective cluster opening matches.

Mighty Manipur expectedly carried too many guns against unsung Jammu and Kashmir by 17-0 in Cluster A opening fixture. At the adjacent ground, Orissa proved their overall superiorty against Bihar by routing them with 7-0 margin in Cluster B outing.

Manipur, captained by international M Bem-Bem Devi, dominated the proceedings. The Jammu and Kashmir players defended their goal with all eleven players in their efforts to restrict the winning margin of Manipur who fought the battle in the rival's territory.

The star performer for Manipur was Y Kamala Devi who pierced the J and K goal seven time but could not perform the three-in-a-row feat.

Her goals came in the 7th, 14th, 28th, 38th, 49th, 50th and 73rd minutes.

M Mandakini Devi (40th, 57th and 80th), N Montesori Chanu (35th and 55th), N Chan-Chan Chanu (26th and 46th) and M Bem-Bem Devi (23rd) were the other scorers of Manipur.

In the second match of the day, Orissa owed their fluent triumph to Jhili Munda who pumped in four goals but was denied a hat-trick.

She opened the Orissa account in the first minute itself with a fine gol. Jhili went on to score more goals in the 12th, 33rd and 44th minutes. Louchana Munda (55th), Srimati (20th) and Supriya Rautray (50th) contributed one goal each to swell Orissa's tally.

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