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After winning their second Intercontinental Cup trophy with a 2-0 win over Lebanon on Sunday, June 18, the Indian football team has taken the unanimous decision of donating Rs 20 Lakh of their prize money to the victims of the Balasore Train Accident that took place earlier in June 2023.
"We’re grateful for the gesture by the Government of Odisha to award the team with a cash bonus for our win. In what was an instant and collective decision by the dressing room, we’ve decided to donate Rs. 20 Lahks of that money towards relief and rehabilitation work for families affected by the unfortunate train accident in the state earlier this month.
"Nothing will compensate for the loss that people have faced, but we hope that this plays its own little part in helping families cope and tide through what are very tough times," they wrote on their official Twitter handle.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced a cash reward of Rs 1 crore for the team after their victory, and the whole team will collectively donate Rs 20 Lakh for the victim's aid.
The accident, which claimed the lives of nearly 300 passengers and left over 1,000 injured, involved the Yeshwantpur-Howrah Superfast Express, Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel Express and a goods train.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, goals from Sunil Chhetri and Lallianzuala Chhangte was enough to take India above their opponents as they won their second title in three editions of the competition. It was the 87th international goal of Skipper Chhetri's career. But the plaudits go to fullback Nikhil Poojary, who nutmegged his opponent player to find Lallianzuala with a neat backheel.
The Mumbai City FC winger did well to cut the ball back to Chhetri, who neatly found the net with a tap-in.
Lallianzuala turned scorer for the second goal. Chhetri found Naorem Mahesh at the edge of the Lebanon penalty and his shot was nicely saved by the goalkeeper. However, Lallianzuala was there to volley the ball home.
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