Ranchi, July 27: Girls from Sisai, Gumla, won the hearts of football fans and the first Jharkhand Women’s Football cup defeating Nav Jharkhand Football Club, Ranchi, 5-0 in the final played today at JAP-I ground.

With six university players, including two new ones, to represent India in Scotland next month, the Gumla girls took the field as hot favourites. They justified the top billing and netted as many as four goals in the first 20 minutes of the first half.

Mejran Kindo opened the account in fifth minute, scoring a goal after taking advantage of a fumble at the Ranchi goal post. Three minutes later Sushila Barla and four minutes thereafter the newly elected India player and Gumla forward Bina Kerketta outwitted the Ranchi defence to score the third goal. As if spurred by intra-team challenge, fleet-footed right out Roy Muni Kumari, who also has been selected to represent India, breached Ranchi’s defence for her team’s fourth goal.

The lone goal of the second half came in the third minute after half-time when Malti Kumari slammed one into the net. In comparison to the final, the Gumla girls were fully tested in the semi-final against Hazaribagh earlier. Gumla girls got through to the finals thanks to Shanti Lakra's 21st minute goal. In the other semi-final too Nav Jharkhand Club, Ranchi just scraped past Chaibasa , 4-3 in the tie-breaker. The play off for the third place too was decided in the tie breaker with Chaibasa defeating Hazaribagh 4-1.

Bina Kerketta of Jalan Football club, Sisai, Gumla, was declared player of the tournament and received her trophy from Mrs Kamal Marwah, the Jharkhand Governor's wife. Organisers Jhakhand Adivasi Khel Sangh honoured 75-year-old Sudhir Tirkey, ace footballer of the 1950s nicknamed ‘Chotanagpur’s Pele’. They also honoured women hockey players Karuna Purty and Sumitra Kumari, and Rita Kullu, former India woman footballer. JAKS general secretary Jayant Jaipal Singh said next year the association’s target would be to get at least two teams from each of the 22 districts in the state. This time 24 teams from all over the state, including rural areas, participated.