India Dominates 2025 SAFF U-17 Women’s Championship in Bhutan and Seals Title with Commanding Win.
Sports
In a spectacular display on August 29, 2025, at Thimphu’s Changlimithang Stadium, India’s U-17 women’s football team clinched the SAFF (South Asian Football Federation) U-17 Women’s Championship 2025 title by defeating Nepal 5-0, securing an unassailable lead and marking their third triumph in the tournament’s history.
- India began their campaign with a crushing 7-0 victory over Nepal on August 20, underlining their dominance early in the tournament; this emphatic win, featuring braces from Abhista Basnett, Nira Chanu Longjam, Anushka Kumari, and a strike from captain Julan Nongmaithem, set the stage for a flawless performance across the group stages.
- The championship, held in Bhutan from August 20 to 31, 2025, featured four teams—India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and hosts Bhutan—competing in a double round-robin format at the Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu; India topped the table with 15 points from five matches, ensuring the title with a game to spare.
Main Point :- (i) India’s title-sealing match was a 5-0 triumph over Nepal on August 29, where the team led 3-0 at half-time; goals from Pearl Fernandes (2), Divyani Linda (2), and Nira Chanu Longjam ensured victory despite Bangladesh’s 1-1 draw with Bhutan, which meant India’s point total remained unbeatable.
(ii) This marking their third championship win in this age group, India’s success bookended 53 goals scored across 12 matches in the tournament, with Anushka Kumari emerging as the top scorer (8 goals) and Abhista Basnett named the Most Valuable Player, adding individual accolades to the collective triumph.
(iii) India now turns its focus to the final round-robin fixtures, where they will face Bangladesh on August 31; having secured the championship already, the Young Tigresses will aim to finish the tournament undefeated and without conceding a single goal.
About South Asian Football Federation (SAFF)
President: Kazi Salahuddin
Headquarters: Dhaka, Bangladesh
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