Bhubaneswar: The Odisha team returned home on Wednesday after finishing runners-up in the Rajmata Jijabai Trophy for national women’s football championship held at Chhattisgarh’s Narainpur.
The players and support staff were given a ceremonial welcome by officials of Odisha’s Department of Sports & Youth Services, and office-bearers of Football Association of Odisha at the Biju Patnaik International Airport here.
The players were garlanded. A special cake in the shape of a football was ordered, which all squad members and officials tasted.
Odisha gave powerhouse Manipur a run for their money in the final before going down 0-1 in the final on Monday.
It was defending champions Manipur’s 23rd title, while Odisha lost their sixth final – all against the northeastern state.
Odisha’s only triumph came in the 2010-11 edition, when they beat Bengal 5-0 in the final at Bhilai.
