Blue Tigress creates history by claiming the SAFF Women’s Championship for record 6th time

The seven-year wait is over. The Indian women’s national football team once again managed to claim the regional championship. In an exciting final against the two-time defending champions of Bangladesh on Saturday evening, the Indians managed to come out victorious with a 3-1 scoreline in the SAFF Women’s Championship 2026 at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

This historic win means that the Blue Tigresses have won their sixth SAFF championship, thereby breaking the dream of the Bangladesh team of winning their third successive title.

With a noisy crowd supporting them, India, ranked 69th in the world, got their game underway against the lower-ranked opposition, ranked 112th. Controlling the ball for much of the time, the Indians had to face a rude awakening when the Bangladeshi player Ritu Porna Chakma almost scored from a corner kick.

In the 42nd minute, however, India was able to get their first goal of the match when their forward Pyari Xaxa broke away to shoot, but her effort hit Bangladesh’s defender, Surovi Akter, resulting in an own goal. This goal, however, proved to be very fleeting as Bangladesh, with just seconds left in the first half stoppage time (45+1'), managed to equalise via Chakma, who shot from close range past the goalkeeper Panthoi Chanu.

The tactical changes made by Coach Chettri during the break proved effective straightaway. Just 40 seconds after kickoff, Xaxa provided an assist. The player made a run down the right side of the pitch and passed the ball into the box, where Sanfida Nongrum made no mistake heading it in, allowing India to regain the lead (2-1).

With the Bangladesh team struggling to find their second equaliser, India capitalised on the openings left by them. It was the sub, Lynda Kom Serto, who, in the 82nd minute of the game, took advantage of the mistake made by the visiting side and scored (3-1).

The match ended with the hosts putting in one of the most dominant, perfect performances in their tournament history. India went undefeated in their four games, scoring a phenomenal 18 goals while conceding only once throughout the entire tournament. The team also walked away with the individual honours of the tournament: Most Valuable Player (MVP): Sanfida Nongrum Leading Goalscorer: Aveka Singh (4 goals) Goalkeeper of the Tournament: Panthoi Chanu

Celebrations, nonetheless, were tinged with sorrow as Dangmei Grace, the veteran Indian winger who made her international debut back in 2013 and played 95 times for the country, hung up her boots after bringing yet another SAFF Championship to her team, this being her third.

Sportscape believes that the Blue Tigress have achieved such an historical feat but India doesn't celebrate our brave women footballers that much and it is high time that we give them their due credit and start applauding their success.