In an intense battle in the 73rd B.N. Mallik Memorial National Police Football Championship at Umakanta Mini Stadium on Friday, Tripura men’s team put up a brave fight against the mighty Punjab.
The home side posed a stern challenge, coming agonizingly close to a breakthrough. Had a Punjab defender not made a heroic goal-line clearance, Pritam Hossain and his teammates might have clinched a stunning hat-trick of wins. Instead, a costly defensive error late in the second half allowed Punjab to score the decisive goal. Despite a spirited fightback, Tripura team couldn’t find the equalizer, succumbing to a narrow defeat.
This loss has left Tripura’s quarter-final hopes hanging in the balance. With one group-stage match remaining against Meghalaya on March 2, their fate now rests on that do-or-die fixture. A victory could still propel them into the next round, but the pressure is on.
Meanwhile, the men’s tournament is heating up as the group stage nears its conclusion. Six teams have already booked their pre-quarter-final berths across the eight groups. The final lineup will take shape over the last two days—Saturday and Sunday—when the remaining matches wrap up. In Group A, Kerala has stormed through as champions, with SSB well-placed to join them. Jammu & Kashmir and Madhya Pradesh, though, cling to slim chances of advancing. Elsewhere, CRPF (Group B), Assam Rifles (Group C), CISF (Group E), and ITBP and Rajasthan (Group F) have all secured their quarter-final spots with commanding performances.
In the women’s category, Assam Rifles (Group A) and Odisha (Group B) have confirmed their knockout-stage places. Two more teams from Manipur, Tamil Nadu, CRPF, and SSB are expected to emerge as contenders.
Friday’s action showcased the women’s dominance as Manipur crushed Maharashtra 9-0, Odisha obliterated Jharkhand 19-0, and Assam Rifles outclassed Tamil Nadu 6-0.
The men’s matches were equally electrifying. Kerala dispatched Jammu & Kashmir 3-0, CRPF blanked Uttarakhand 4-0, Assam Rifles routed Bihar 5-0, and Manipur edged Odisha 2-0. Rajasthan delivered a 13-0 thrashing to Puducherry, while BSF overcame Nagaland 4-1, and Goa dominated Karnataka 4-0.
As the knockout rounds loom, teams like Sikkim, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Punjab, Assam, Delhi, Mizoram, Uttar Pradesh, BSF, and Goa are edging closer to securing their places, setting the stage for an intense battle ahead.
Results on Day 5:
Women’s Category:
- Manipur thrashes Maharashtra 9-0 at Umakanta Stadium.
- Odisha demolishes Jharkhand 19-0 in a one-sided contest.
Men’s Category:
- BSF beats Nagaland 4-1 at Chandrapur Stadium, Udaipur.
- Goa secures a 4-0 win over Karnataka.
- Rajasthan crushes Puducherry 13-0 in a dominant display at Jampuijala Stadium.
- ITBP sweeps past Himachal Pradesh 5-0 in an impressive outing.
- Kerala overcomes Jammu & Kashmir 3-0 at Jirania Stadium.
- SSB secures a commanding 4-0 victory against Madhya Pradesh.
- CRPF dominates Uttarakhand 4-0 at Mohanpur Stadium.
- Assam Rifles dismantles Bihar 5-0 in a one-sided affair.
- Manipur edges past Odisha 2-0 in a hard-fought encounter.