Tsering Dhundup
DHARAMSHALA, Sept. 4: The Tibetan National Men’s Football Team has been eliminated after losing both group matches in the second edition of the Climate Cup held at Ladakh, UT. The team faced defeats against both North East United FC and 1 Ladakh FC, failing to secure any points in the tournament.
In their opening match on Monday, Team Tibet squared off against North East United FC, an established club from the Indian Super League (ISL) based in Guwahati, Assam. Despite a promising start, the Tibetan squad found themselves on the back foot early, conceding a goal in the 4th minute. Despite persistent efforts to equalize, Team Tibet could not breach the opposition’s defence and were narrowly defeated 1-0.
The team’s fortunes did not improve in their second fixture, where they took on 1 Ladakh FC on Tuesday afternoon. In a challenging game, Team Tibet struggled defensively, allowing 3 goals—two of which came in the first half. The final blow was delivered in the dying minutes of the match with a free kick that curled into the top corner, ending the game with a score line of 3-0 in favour of 1 Ladakh FC.
Support for Team Tibet was visible, with fans attending the matches in significant numbers and expressing their backing on social media. Reactions to the team’s performance were mixed; while some supporters praised the squad’s efforts and resilience, others voiced their frustration and disappointment at the outcomes.
This year’s Climate Cup saw a different squad for Team Tibet, which included several new players. The team had over 20 days of training camp at the Poanta Cholsum Settlement before the tournament. Their previous participation in the Climate Cup had been marked by a notable achievement, securing second place despite a heavy 6-0 defeat to Delhi FC in the final match.
“Our participation in the Climate Cup 2024 has concluded. Despite not achieving our objectives, the team showcased unwavering commitment and fought valiantly until the very end,” TNSA said on its official Facebook handle.
