7th Manipur Int’l Women’s Polo Tourney Manipur go top despite 5-5 draw with South Africa, Zambia beat India Team-A 4-2

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jan 30 : India-B (Manipur) become runaway league leaders despite a 5-5 draw with South Africa to confirm their place in the final of the ongoing 7th Manipur International Women’s Polo Tournament at Mapal Kangjeibung.
Hosts Manipur fought back one goal down in the first chukker to make it 2-2 in the second chukker in this keenly contested match before taking a 5-3 lead in the third chukker courtesy of Thoudam Tanna’s heroics.
The visitors, however, fought back brilliantly in the final chukker to salvage a 5-5 draw, their second in two matches after having played out a similar draw with India Team-A represented by IPA.
Cranje Ritali struck 12 seconds past the first minute in the opening chukker to put South Africa ahead but Moirangthem Bijenti hit the equaliser 32 seconds past the second minute in the second chukker to make things all square. Thoudam Tanna overturned the lead in the fourth minute (3:26) of the same chukker but Spies Chrisna helped South Africa return into the game by scoring the equaliser midway in the 7th minute (6:26).
Thoudam Tanna then scored three more goals in the third chukker (0:17, 1:43, 4:30) against one scored by Spies Chrisna (3:37) to earn Manipur a 5-3 lead but Spies Chrisna (4:29) and Cranje Ritali struck one goal apiece in the final chukker to dash Manipur’s hope of securing three of three victories.
Despite the result, Manipur are on top of the table with two wins and one draw.
Earlier in the day, Zambia, who lost 3-7 to Manipur in their opening match, rode on a double from Paterson Emily Jane to win 4-2 against India Team-A.
The two sides failed to find the target in the first chukker before Sanjana Sanjula Mann opened the scoring 40 seconds into the second chukker and added another in the second minute (1:49).
Pamela Margaret Greenshields (4:23) and Paterson Emily Jane (5:21) however took their turns to help Zambia rally back and make it 2-2 at the end of the chukker.
Zambia’s Brown Samantha Grace scored 30 seconds into the third chukker to turn things around before Paterson Emily Jane rounded off the scoring in the fourth chukker (3:01).
Zambia and South Africa will fight it out for the remaining final ticket in the final league match on February 1.
The final match is scheduled for February 2.