Gangtok: Opening its account with a winning start, Sikkim on Tuesday defeated Assam 3-0 at the ongoing North East Dr T Ao Trophy football tournament held in Kohima, the capital of Nagaland
Sikkim’s dynamic footballer and midfielder Don Tshering Lepcha scored the all-important goal at the 73rd minute converting a penalty shoot, informed state team manager Arjun Rai.
With recent achievements at the region’s much-cheered football tournament, Sikkim has collected a total of 3 points in its group which also has Mizoram and Meghalaya. The Sikkim football team will now face Meghalaya in its second game scheduled to be held on January 23.
The most-awaited football event — North East Dr T Ao Trophy 2020 — kicked off at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in Kohima on Monday. Coinciding with the 100th birth centenary of legendary Indian footballer Dr Talimeren Ao, the grand opening ceremony of one of the biggest football events in the region witnessed the unity of all the eight Northeastern states including Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura — under one platform, as each of them will vie for the ultimate championship title.
The inaugural ceremony was graced by RN Ravi, governor of Nagaland and Meghalaya, who in his address recounted how Dr T Ao, the legendary figure, began his journey from a humble remote village with a passion for football and had gone to excel both in sports and academics.
As reported by EastMojo earlier, Nagaland is hosting the mega tournament after a gap of 10 years, at the state’s only astroturf football pitch under the theme ‘Together we can soar’. The maiden football event will conclude on January 28, the birth anniversary of Dr T Ao, and will be graced by the chief minister Neiphiu Rio.
