Shillong, July 12: Assam Rifles is organizing the first ever Assam Rifles Annual Women’s Football Tournament for teams across all the states of North East. Branded as the Sentinels Cup in line with Sobriquet of Assam Rifles ‘Sentinels of the North
East’. Seven women football teams from Meghalaya, Assam, Nagaland, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Assam Rifles voluntarily participated in the tournament.
The first phase of the tournament was conducted at Lokra in Assam. Semifinals were played between team of Assam Rifles and Nagaland and second semi final was between teams from Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
The finals was contested between teams from Assam Rifles and Arunachal Pradesh amongst the beautiful backdrop of the East Khasi Hills at the Laitkor Garrison of the Assam Rifles at Shillong.
The Sentinels Cup commenced on 30 Jun 2024 at the Lokra, Assam with opening ceremony graced by the Hon’ble Governor of Assam, Shri Gulab Chand Kataria. Each and every match of the tournament was keenly contested with competitive sportspersons spirit.
The tournament saw ups and downs in team positions with some fiercely contested close games. The best two teams competed for the final match. The event is being sponsored by State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, Yes Bank and Induslnd Bank.
The finals of the Sentinel Cup was played between teams of Assam Rifles and Arunachal Pradesh. Team from Arunachal Pradesh emerged winners after a nail biting keenly contested match which ran into extra time. The event was graced by Lt Gen P C Nair, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, Phd, DG Assam Rifles.
The spectators were entertained with some quality football displayed by the highly skilled, motivated and competitive footballers from both the teams.
Assam Rifles, the Force which prides itself in being ‘Friends of the North East’ is promoting sports as an instrument for motivating the youth to stay away from insurgency and drugs and also to identify the abundant talent of North East for future growth.
Assam Rifles also has an MoU with the Bhaichung Bhutia Football Academy in its residential Assam Rifles Public School (Sports) for tapping the football talent of the North East with the intent of boosting Government of India Initiatives of Khelo India Abhiyan and Fit India Movement.
