Mina & Purnima shine despite Nepal U-20 Women’s Championship setback
Despite being new to the global stage, Mina said she played without fear or pressure, striving to stick to her game and feeling satisfied with her overall performance.
KATHMANDU: Nepal’s U-20 women’s football team showed grit and promise during the recent championship, with standout performances from strikers Mina Deuba and Purnima Rai.
Mina Deuba, playing in her first-ever international tournament, netted an impressive seven goals in six matches.
Despite being new to the global stage, Mina said she played without fear or pressure, striving to stick to her game and feeling satisfied with her overall performance.
“I tried to play with confidence. Except for the final match, I’m happy with how I played,” she said. Mina expressed disappointment over the first match, where a last-minute goal led to a heartbreaking loss. However, even after conceding three goals in a game, she remained optimistic. “I believed we could come back,” she added, though she admitted that miscommunication between the goalkeeper and defense caused problems.
She highlighted the strength of Bangladesh’s attacking line and the mismatch with Nepal’s defense, making the matches more challenging.
Still, Mina is confident that consistent performance and following the coach’s strategies could help her secure a place in the senior national team.
Team captain Birsana Chaudhary echoed similar concerns, saying that despite their intent to play well, issues in the defense and lack of coordination between the midfield and backline impacted their performance.
Meanwhile, forward Purnima Rai emerged as the tournament’s top scorer, earning the Golden Boot with 10 goals. “I didn’t expect to score this many goals, but I’m happy I could fulfill my role as a striker,” said Purnima. However, she was disappointed at not scoring in the final game.
Purnima noted that Bangladesh had the edge due to their long-term preparation, while Nepal had just a month to train. She believes that with more experience and continuous hard work, the Nepal team can match Bangladesh’s level and even go further.
Both players remain hopeful about the future, with their eyes set on the senior national team, driven by determination and the valuable experience gained from the championship.
