Odisha women beach football team made the State proud by winning the gold medal in the 1st Khelo India Beach Games 2025 at Ghoghla Beach in Diu today. Leading from the front, captain Jasoda Munda scored a brace to enable Odisha beat local favourites Gujarat in the exciting final by 3-2 goals.
This was the only gold medal for Odisha in the KIBG 2025 and the 12-member Odisha women football team clinched it, winning all the four matches they played. Odisha decimated Madhya Pradesh 18-0 and Andhra Pradesh 14-1 to qualify for the semifinals, where they trounced Uttar Pradesh 12-7.
Despite having no or little experience of playing beach soccer, Odisha women dished out excellent skill and technique to clinch the only gold medal for the State. A big applause for this historic achievement should go to coach Gitanjali Khuntia, whose guidance, inspiration and game-plan worked wonders.
In fact, Khuntia has reinforced the dwindling fortunes of the Odisha women football teams, enabling the State to win three National medals within six months. Under her coaching, Odisha women footballers won one silver medal each at the 29th Senior Women National Football Championship at Narainpur, Chhattisgarh in December 2024 and the 38th National Games in Haldwani, Uttarakhand in February 2025.
Football Association of Odisha president Tankadhar Tripathy and secretary Asirbad Behera congratulated the State womens team for their stellar performance and achievement in the KIBG 2025.
However, the invaluable contributions of Khuntia have not yet been recognised or rewarded by the State Government. While the players were felicitated with cash awards, coach Khuntia received nothing. Hopefully, the State Sports & Youth Services Department will not be indifferent towards Khuntia any more.
ODISHA RESULTS:
20 May: Odisha (Satyabati Khadia 4, 5, 17, 27, Kuni Munda 4, 5, Sulekha Kanhar 9, 10, 22, Jyoshna Mundary 11, Jasoda Munda 13, 13, 20, 32, 32, Shibani Mundari 15, Subhadra Sahoo 27, 31) beat Madhya Pradesh 18-0.
21 May: Odisha (Satyabati Khadia 1, 5, 12, 18, Laxmipriya Lenka 9, 11, Sulekha Kanhar 12, 13, Ruppa Pushpalatha 14-OG, Subhadra Sahoo 16, 25, Jasoda Munda 19, 36, Jyoshna Mundary 32) beat Andhra Pradesh (Rasheeda Sk 12) 14-1.
23 May: Odisha (Subhadra Sahoo 1, Jasoda Munda 3, 4, 7, 25, 30, Satyabati Khadia 5, 8, 14, 15, 35, Sulekha Kanhar 9) beat Uttar Pradesh (Muskan Khan 6, 20, 28, Km Sonam 19, Heena Khatun 25, 30, Shibani Mundari 27-OG) 12-7.
23 May: Odisha (Jasoda Munda 12, 25, Satyabati Khadia 13) beat Gujarat (Shaikh Naaz 30, 31) 3-2.
ODISHA WOMEN BEACH SOCCER TEAM: Goalkeepers: Sakro Hembram, Sasmita Parida. Defenders: Akashi Naik, Shibani Mundari, Sulekha Kanhar, Ankita Naik. Midfielders: Jasoda Munda, Jyoshna Mundary, Satyabati Khadia. Forwards: Laxmipriya Lenka, Subhadra Sahoo, Kuni Munda. Team Staff: Gitanjali Khuntia (Head Coach), Gomati Bara (Manager), Sucharita Swain (Physio).
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PHOTO: Players, coach and support staff of Odisha women beach football team pose with the winners trophy and gold medal at the 1st Khelo India Beach Games 2025 at the Ghoghla Beach in Diu on 23 May 2025.