Joakim Alexandersson made a strong debut as head coach of the Indian women’s football team, as his side triumphed 14-0 over the Maldives in the first of two FIFA women’s friendlies in Bengaluru on January 1. The match was notable for the debut of eight new senior players, with Alexandersson promising more opportunities for others in the upcoming game on January 2, as reported by the AIFF official website.
In the case, the ED had earlier issued summons to KTR and also asked IAS officer Arvind Kumar, former Principal Secretary of the Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MAUD) Department, and B L N Reddy, a former Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) Chief Engineer, to appear before it on January 2 and 3, respectively.
The ED is conducting an investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) based on an FIR filed by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in connection with the alleged financial irregularities to the tune of ₹55 crore in the conduct of Formula-E car race in Hyderabad in 2023.
The ED is also investigating if there were any Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) violations in the transfer of Rs 45 crore to Formula-E Organisers (FOE), a foreign company.
Taking cognizance of the ACB FIR filed on December 19 against KTR, the son of former Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) under the Prevention of Corruption Act as well as under Indian Penal Code sections 409 (criminal breach of trust) and 120B (criminal conspiracy), the ED filed a money laundering case against KTR, Arvind Kumar and Reddy on December 20.
In the FIR filed under Section 409 (criminal breach of trust) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy), besides Section 13(1)(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, While KTR was named the primary accused, Arvind Kumar and Reddy were named the second and third accused, respectively.
On Tuesday, the Telangana High Court reserved its judgment on the quash petition filed by KTR challenging the FIR filed against him in connection with the alleged financial irregularities in the conduct of the Formula-E car race in Hyderabad.
After hearing the arguments on the petition, the court also extended the interim orders directing that police should not arrest KTR until the verdict is delivered.
From the very beginning, the disparity in quality was clear. Alexandersson expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance, particularly their effective use of space and ball movement. However, he’s eager to see how the bench players perform in the next match, stating, “I think we used the game well. We were too big for them. We made improvements with ball movement, exploiting space, and using both the wide areas and the central line. Overall, it was a good performance. We’ll make rotations in the next game to give more inexperienced players a chance.”
Among the debutants, Lynda Kom Serto shone the brightest, scoring four goals. Despite this being her senior debut, those familiar with her career would consider it a typical performance. Lynda first gained attention as a 12-year-old when she scored two goals in the 2017 SAFF U15 Championship. She was also the MVP and top scorer in the 2022 SAFF U18 Championship and played as India’s number nine at the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. In Bengaluru, she formed a formidable partnership with senior striker Pyari Xaxa, with both players netting half of the team’s goals.
“Lynda was very good tactically,” Alexandersson remarked. “We had discussed her role before the game, and she executed it well.” Lynda herself expressed her joy, saying, “I’m very happy to score four goals in my first match with the senior team. I dedicate these goals to my family, coaches, and teammates. I hope to score more in upcoming matches. These friendlies are great for improving as a team.”
Other debutants also made an impact. Neha, awarded the AIFF Promising Women’s Player of the Year in July, scored a brace, as did substitute Kajol Dsouza. Rimpa Haldar marked her first goal for India after a dazzling dribbling run and fine build-up play.
Looking ahead to the second game, Alexandersson anticipates that the Maldives will adapt and become more compact defensively. He is focused on speeding up his team’s play and making quicker decisions with the ball, noting, “Our opponents will likely improve in the next match, so we must be faster in our decision-making.” He also highlighted the fact that India didn’t concede a goal after the 66th minute, showing the potential for a solid defensive unit.