Mixed fortunes marked Kerala's opening fixtures in theKhelo India Youth Gamesfootball competition here Thursday with their Under-21 boys team dropping a point to Chandigarh and their Under-17 girls swamping Himachal Pradesh by a 28-0 margin.
Dhruvgave Chandigarh the lead in the 62nd minute, but nine minutes later Habeeb Rahman fired the equaliser to save a point for Kerala, a media release issued here said.
In the girls match, Kerala rode onMeghnas seven-goal blitz as the hapless Himachal Pradeshgirls were put to the sword.
Other scorers for the southern team included Sona (5), Sreelakshmi and Amaya (3 each) and Abhirami, Bhagya, Theertha and Ananya (2 apece).
Led by a brace fromS Longjam, Punjab opened their campaign with awhirlwind 6-1 win over Uttarakhandin the boys U-17 section.
Tamil Nadu had to wage a grim battle to down Odisha 1-0 in their U-21 girlsopener.
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MariyammalBalamurugam's strike in the seventhminute turning out to be the match-winner.
Later, scoring twice in each half,Karnatakacollected full pointswith a 4-1 win over Mizoram in the U-21 tournament.
Alfred Lal Routsang and Sumit Kumar Puran scored in the first half, while Khwairakpam C Singh and Michael Touthangboosted the scoreline after the break.
For Mizoram, H P Lalremruata scoredthe consolation goal.
There was consolation in the Under-17 competition for Mizoram who got the better of hosts Maharashtra 3-0.
InaU-21 girls match, Mizoram easily trounced Himachal Pradesh 13-0.
Lalchhanhimi, Miriam Lalnunsiami (four each) Lalrinmuani (3) and Lalnuntluangi (2)were the scorers.
Results: U-21 (Boys) KeraladrewwithChandigarh 1-1, Mizoram bt Maharashtra3-0.
U-17 (Boys) Punjab beat Uttrakhand6-1, Karnataka bt Mizoram 4-1.
U-21 (Girls): Tamil Nadu btOdisha 1-0, Mizorambt Himachal 13-0.
U-17 (Girls): Keralabt Himachal Pradesh 28-0 Odisha bt Maharashtra 2-0.
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