Bangladeshi stars Rituporna Chakma and Tohura Khatun were at the centre of attention as Paro FC and Royal Thimphu College played out a thrilling 1–1 draw in the Bhutan Women’s League on Saturday. The match marked Paro’s first draw of the season and saw a face-off between several national team players.
Paro FC took the lead in the first half through Bangladesh’s Japanese-origin footballer Sumaiya Matsushima. Rituporna, who has often been the key to Paro’s victories, struggled to make an impact due to a lingering ankle injury she sustained during a practice match last week. Despite being fielded by Paro’s coaching staff, she spent much of the game standing and could not perform at her usual level.
Royal Thimphu College equalised in the 67th minute from a free kick just outside Paro’s box, with Sonam converting a brilliant shot. Her performance earned her the man-of-the-match award. Tohura Khatun, Shamshunnahar Junior, and Shaheda Akter Ripa played key roles for Thimphu College, with Tohura expressing frustration after the match. “They (RTC) expected a lot from me, but I missed several opportunities. Both Shamshunnahar and I could have done better,” she said, reflecting on the missed chances.
The match was described as almost a ‘Bangladesh vs Bangladesh’ encounter, with five national team players featuring across both sides. Paro FC fielded Sabina Khatun, Rituporna, Sumaiya, and Monika, while Royal Thimphu College included Tohura, Shamshunnahar, Ripa, and Bangladesh captain Afida Khondokar and Swapna Rani, who will join the club for the AFC Women’s Champions League in Laos.