India Clinches SAFF U-19 Championship 2025 Title After Beating Bangladesh in AR.
Sports
On May 18, 2025, the Indian men’s under-19 (U-19) football team secured their fourth South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) U-19 Championship title by defeating Bangladesh in the final held at the Golden Jubilee Stadium in Yupia, Arunachal Pradesh (AR), India.
- Known as the 'Blue Colts' and captained by Singamayum Shami, the Indian team triumphed 4-3 in a penalty shootout after the match ended in a 1-1 draw during regular time to claim the championship.
- The 7th edition of the SAFF U-19 Championship 2025 was organized by the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF), headquartered in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and hosted by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) of New Delhi in collaboration with the Arunachal Pradesh Football Association (APFA).
Main Point :- (i) The tournament took place from May 9 to 18, 2025, at the Golden Jubilee Stadium in Yupia, Arunachal Pradesh, featuring six teams: India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, and Sri Lanka.
(ii) The competition format consisted of two groups with three teams each—Group A had Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Maldives, while Group B included India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.
(iii) India dominated the awards with Danny Meitei Laishram as the Top Scorer (5 goals), Suraj Singh Aheibam as Best Goalkeeper, Mohammed Arbash as Most Valuable Player, and the team receiving the Fair Play Award.
About South Asian Football Federation (SAFF)
President : Kazi Salahuddin
Headquarters : Dhaka, Bangladesh
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