Dimapur, November 4 (MExN): The preliminary league rounds of the 65TH B.N. Mullik Memorial All India Police Football Championship 2016 kicked off today at Police Complex, Chumukedima. Altogether 39 Police teams from various State/Union Territory and Central Police Organizations are participating. The teams are divided into 8 groups and the matches are being played at 4 grounds. The first match of Group A was played between defending champions Punjab Police and Tamil Nadu Police at the Nagaland Police Training School Ground, Chumukedima. In an exciting contest, the defending champions prevailed as they won 2-1. In Group B, last edition’s finalist BSF blanked Andhra Pradesh Police by 6 goals to nil in a one sided match at the 1st NAP Ground. Nilamber SA of BSF was the star of the match scoring a hat trick in the 15th, 19th, and 69th minute. In Group C, Assam Rifles defeated SSB 3-1 at the Sports Complex Ground. In Group D, host Nagaland Police outplayed Madhya Pradesh Police 10-0 at the Nagaland Armed Police Training Centre Stadium. Striker Ratobe Poireng grabbed five goals scoring in the 12th, 21st, 40th, 44th and 56th minute. Limakumzuk (28th), Lipoksashi (30th), Sakutemjen (38th), Kekhrieletuo (42nd) and Kezhose (60th) added to the tally. In Group E, CRPF edged Odisha Police 2-1 while Jammu and Kashmir Police prevailed over their neighbouring state Himachal Pradesh Police in Group F. The nail biting encounter ended 2-1 in favour of the J&K Police. West Bengal Police defeated Puducherry Police 5-0 in a Group G match. In another one sided contest in Group H, Goa Police defeated Uttar Pradesh Police with a similar score of 5-0. Nov 4 matches Punjab vs Lakshadweep CISF vs Uttarkhand Sikkim vs Rajasthan Arunachal vs Mizoram Tripura vs Haryana Gujarat vs Telangana Maharashtra vs Kerala Delhi vs Jharkhand The morning matches will start at 8:00 am and evening matches at 2:00 pm. All matches are entry free and the Organizers invite all football enthusiasts to come and witness the excitement in the fields.
