Assam Rifles Hosts Inaugural Women's Football Tournament in Northeast

Assam Rifles organized the first-ever Annual Women's Football Tournament, featuring teams from across the North East. The final match saw Arunachal Pradesh crowned champions after defeating the Assam Rifles team. The event promotes youth participation in sports and aims to curb insurgency and drug abuse.

In a pioneering step towards promoting women's sports, Assam Rifles organized the first-ever Assam Rifles Annual Women's Football Tournament, drawing teams from across the North East. Seven teams, representing Meghalaya, Assam, Nagaland, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, and Assam Rifles, voluntarily participated in the historic event held at Lokra in Assam. Dubbed the Sentinels Cup, the tournament aligns with the Sobriquet of Assam Rifles, 'Sentinels of the North East'.

The semifinals featured intense matches, with teams from Assam Rifles and Nagaland clashing, and Assam facing Arunachal Pradesh. Ultimately, the final saw the Assam Rifles team compete against Arunachal Pradesh. The tournament began on June 30, marked by an opening ceremony attended by the Governor of Assam, Gulab Chand Kataria. Each match was fiercely contested, displaying high levels of competitive spirit and sportsmanship.

The culminating moment came when Arunachal Pradesh emerged victorious in a nail-biting final against Assam Rifles, a match that extended into extra time. The event saw participation from prominent figures, including Lt Gen P C Nair, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, and DG Assam Rifles. Assam Rifles, known as the 'Friends of the North East', is committed to using sports as a tool to motivate youth away from insurgency and drugs, also identifying and nurturing local talent for future growth.

Furthering its commitment to sports, Assam Rifles has an MoU with the Bhaichung Bhutia Football Academy at its residential Assam Rifles Public School (Sports). This partnership aims to harness the football talent of the North East, promoting initiatives like the Khelo India Abhiyan and Fit India Movement. The tournament was financially supported by the State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, Yes Bank, and IndusInd Bank.