NEW DELHI: India's return to the summit of South Asian women's football after a seven-year hiatus drew praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who stated that the team's success would motivate more young people to pursue the sport.
India Clinches Sixth SAFF Title
The Indian women's football team, known as the Blue Tigresses, secured a record-extending sixth SAFF Women's Championship title by defeating defending champions Bangladesh 3-1 in a thrilling final at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa on Saturday. This victory ended India's title drought since 2019, having missed out in the previous two editions.
In the final, Pyari Xaxa gave India the lead in the 42nd minute, but Bangladesh's Ritu Porna Chakma equalized in first-half stoppage time. However, Sanfida Nongrum restored India's advantage just 40 seconds after the restart, and substitute Lynda Kom Serto sealed the win with an 82nd-minute strike.
PM Modi's Congratulatory Message
Congratulating the team on social media, PM Modi lauded their performances throughout the tournament and emphasized the broader impact of their achievement. He posted on X: "Congratulations to the Indian Women's Football Team on winning the SAFF Women's Championship 2026. They have played excellently through the tournament. This will encourage more youngsters to play football in the coming times. Best wishes to the team for their future endeavours."
Dominant Campaign
India won all four of their matches in the tournament, scoring 18 goals while conceding only one, showcasing their dominance. The victory denied Bangladesh a third consecutive title and completed a remarkable campaign for the hosts.
Emotional Farewell for Dangmei Grace
The emotional scenes after the final whistle reflected the significance of the achievement. Match-winner Sanfida Nongrum dropped to her knees before embracing veteran Dangmei Grace, who ended her illustrious international career. Grace, who made her India debut in 2013 and earned 95 caps, bowed out in perfect fashion by lifting her third SAFF Women's Championship trophy.
