SAFF Women's Championship: PM Modi hails Indian football team after seven-year title drought ends

NEW DELHI: India's return to the top of South Asian women's football after seven years earned praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who said the team's success would inspire more youngsters to take up the sport.The Blue Tigresses clinched a record-extending sixth SAFF Women's Championship title with an emphatic 3-1 victory over defending champions Bangladesh in a thrilling final at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa on Saturday. Congratulating the side on social media, PM Modi lauded the team's performances throughout the tournament and highlighted the wider impact of their achievement."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," Modi posted on X.The triumph marked India's first SAFF title since 2019 and ended a frustrating drought that had seen the side miss out on the crown in the previous two editions.Pyari Xaxa put India ahead in the 42nd minute, only for Bangladesh's Ritu Porna Chakma to restore parity in first-half stoppage time. However, Sanfida Nongrum ensured India regained the lead just 40 seconds after the restart before substitute Lynda Kom Serto sealed the contest with an 82nd-minute strike.The victory denied Bangladesh a third successive title and completed a remarkable campaign for the hosts.India won all four of their matches in the tournament, scoring 18 goals while conceding just once, underlining their dominance in the competition.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 brought the curtain down on an illustrious international career.Grace, who made her India debut in 2013 and went on to represent the country 95 times, bowed out in perfect fashion by lifting her third SAFF Women's Championship trophy.