BHUBANESWAR: India Under-14 girls’ football team, comprising four players from Odisha and assistant coach Shradhanjali Samantray, are stranded in earthquake-hit Nepal, where they had gone to take part in the AFC U-14 Regional Championship.
Though no contact could be established with the players, Shradhanjali’s mother Rashmi said all the five were safe. “One of the player’s family, which resides in Ahmedabad, called me to say they are safe,” she told Express.
When quake hit Kathmandu, the team members, led by Samantray, were at the stadium for a match against Iran and had a providential escape. The match was cancelled because of the tremor.
“I tried to call them over phone but no contact could be established with my daughter. When I got the call from Ahmedabad, I was relieved,” Rashmi said.
Head coach of the Under-14 team Rocky Maymol was quoted by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) that the team was still in Nepal. “I just want all the girls to return home safely,” media wing of the federation tweeted. The four players from Odisha are Santi Murmu, Janaki Murmu, Eva Panna and Bannya Kabiraj.