The Mumbai Knights Football Academy, who emerged victorious at Mumbai Football Association Women’s Premier League 2024-25 by winning all their matches in dominant fashion, owe their success to some solid beach training.

Coach Preetam Mahadik, who was head coach for the Maharashtra boys U-21 beach football team that won the silver medal at the All-India Football Federation-approved Beach Sports Festival in Diu earlier this year, told mid-day about his beach training strategy for the girls. “For a good three months before the league, we underwent some rigorous beach training sessions. The girls worked hard daily — five days of the week — with the sessions getting more intense as the league approached. And their hard work has paid off brilliantly,” said Mahadik.