India striker Bala Devi remembered her late father and dedicated her 50th international goal to him following the team’s 5-2 win over Pakistan in the SAFF Women’s Football Championship opener here.
The 34-year-old scored her only goal in the match in the 35th minute, with the other goal-scorers being Grace Dangmei (5th and 42nd min), Manisha Kalyan (17th min) and Jyoti Chouhan (78th min) on Thursday.
“This goal is for my father. Though he is no longer with me, I know he would be proud of me today,” said an emotional Bala to AIFF after the win.
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Meanwhile, Jyoti recollected her father’s dream of her playing for India as she netted her debut goal on the international stage. “I am really happy and satisfied with my performance. My father had a dream that someday I would get to wear the Indian colours and score for the country, which I did yesterday,” she admitted.
Grace, who scored a brace in the contest, was adjudged the Player of the Match and dedicated the strikes to the “entire team and staff members.”
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