The Indian team‘s wait finally ended on Saturday at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Margao, Goa, when Indian team reclaimed the SAFF Women’s Championship title after seven years by defeating defending champions Bangladesh 3-1 in an exciting final.

Before Ritu Porna Chakma tied the score in first-half stoppage time, Pyari Xaxa gave India the advantage in the 42nd minute. Sanfida Nongrum gave the Blue Tigresses a 40-second lead in the second half, and substitute Lynda Kom Serto clinched the win in the 82nd minute, extending India’s record to six trophies.

As the last whistle blew, the Indian team and their supporters exploded in happiness since the importance of the accomplishment was clear throughout the Indian camp.

Dangmei Grace, who announced her retirement following the game, was hugged by Sanfida Nongrum, who had knelt down after making a crucial contribution throughout the tournament by scoring in both the semifinal and the final. As India returned to the pinnacle of South Asian women’s football for the first time since 2019, players and staff around them rejoiced. Grace, a legend of the Indian women’s game, represented the country 95 times since her debut in 2013 and concluded her international career on a high note after winning her third SAFF championship.

The win concluded a fantastic campaign for the hosts, who won all four of their games, scoring 18 goals and only allowing one, while ending Bangladesh’s hopes of winning a historic third straight championship.

The championship game included all of the components one would expect from a match between the two top teams in the area. India was pursuing a title that had escaped them for the previous two iterations, and Bangladesh was the defending champions.

India was eager to make an early statement, and Manisha Kalyan was starting for the first time in the competition. During the opening stages, the hosts had the ball for most of the time and made the most of their chances.

Before sending her attempt over the bar, Sanfida Nongrum was the first to try her luck from a challenging angle. When Bangladesh goalkeeper Mile Akter was unable to handle a lengthy ball from Nirmala Devi Phanjoubam, India came even closer in the 16th minute. Astam Oraon was able to recover the loose ball, but the defender was unable to maintain her shot on goal.

Nonetheless, Bangladesh continued to be unsafe. Almost replicating her semifinal heroics versus Nepal, Ritu Porna Chakma curled a corner straight at the goal in the 23rd minute, but it just went over the crossbar.

The team led by Crispin Chettri kept pushing ahead. Before Mile Akter made an outstanding save to stop Manisha Kalyan’s strong half-volley in the 38th minute, Aveka Singh just missed the target with a Nirmala cross.

Three minutes before halftime, the breakthrough finally happened. Before getting a shot away, Pyari Xaxa demonstrated quick feet within the penalty box. Surovi Akter tried to block the shot, but it deflected over the oncoming Mile Akter and into the goal.

Bangladesh responded immediately after the goal seemed to have put India in control before halftime. In the first-half stoppage time, Ritu Porna Chakma broke free on the left flank and slotted a low shot past Panthoi Chanu Elangbam into the bottom corner. It was the first goal India had given up in the competition, guaranteeing that the teams would enter the break with a 1-1 deadlock.

However, India had all of the second half.

Pyari became the provider within seconds of the reset. Sanfida Nongrum was able to restore India’s lead with a powerful header via the post after she came up unmarked from her cross from the right.

The momentum was changed by that goal. Bangladesh found it difficult to achieve the same attacking pace as before, while India seemed more at ease and assured.

The hosts still had some cause for alarm. Panthoi was almost caught off guard by a dangerous delivery from Maria Manda, but the goalkeeper reacted well to tip it away.

After a brilliant move and pass from Sanfida, India kept creating possibilities and nearly increased their lead through Manisha, whose volley went just wide.

When a defensive blunder gave substitute Lynda Kom Serto a chance inside the box, India took advantage and scored their third goal in the 82nd minute. The ball was sent past Mile Akter by the forward, who responded the quickest to put the score at 3-1.

The goal effectively ended the game, guaranteeing there would be no dramatic return.

For the hosts, winning the game capped off a remarkable competition. Sanfida Nongrum was named Most Valuable Player, Panthoi Chanu Elangbam was named Best Goalkeeper, and Aveka Singh was the top scorer with four goals. The Fair Play prize was awarded to Nepal.

On Sunday, President Droupadi Murmu gave her warmest congratulations to the Indian women’s football team for their outstanding execution and win of the SAFF Women’s Championship 2026 title.

After a seven-year wait, India regained the SAFF Women’s Championship crown by defeating reigning champions Bangladesh 3-1 in an exciting final at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Margao, Goa, on Saturday.

The President praised the team’s performance throughout the competition, saying that their historic win would be a strong motivator for young female athletes all around the country who aspire to succeed.

The Indian Women’s Football Team deserves our warmest congratulations on their triumph at the 2026 SAFF Women’s Championship! Our women footballers showed extraordinary skill, determination, and collaboration during the whole event. “I am sure that their amazing accomplishment will motivate young women throughout the country to follow their aspirations with confidence and bravery,” the President wrote on X.

Prior to Ritu Porna Chakma’s equaliser in first-half stoppage time, Pyari Xaxa gave India the lead in the 42nd minute. Substitute Lynda Kom Serto clinched the triumph in the 82nd minute as India won a record-extending sixth trophy, while Sanfida Nongrum restored the Blue Tigresses’ lead just 40 seconds into the second half.

The importance of the accomplishment was clear across the Indian camp as the last whistle blew. Sanfida Nongrum, who was instrumental throughout the event and scored in both the semi-final and the championship game, knelt before hugging teammate Dangmei Grace, who declared her retirement after the game.

India reclaimed the pinnacle of South Asian women’s football for the first time since 2019 as players and employees around them rejoiced. Grace, a legendary player in the Indian women’s game, played for the country 95 times since her debut in 2013. She ended her international career on a high note by winning her third SAFF title.