PM Hails Indian Women's Football Team On SAFF Championship 2026 Win: 'Will Encourage More Youngsters'

Published 7 June 2026 · india

PM Hails Indian Women's Football Team On SAFF Championship 2026 Win: 'Will Encourage More Youngsters' Published By, Last Updated: June 07, 2026, 14:15 IST PM

PM Hails Indian Women's Football Team On SAFF Championship 2026 Win: 'Will Encourage More Youngsters' Published By, Last Updated: June 07, 2026, 14:15 IST PM Narendra Modi hailed India's SAFF Women's Championship victory, saying the team's success will inspire more youngsters to take up football in the future. PM Modi congratulates Indian women's football team (Photos: X/@narendramodi) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday congratulated the Indian women’s football team after it clinched the SAFF Women’s Championship 2026 title, lauding the side’s performance throughout the tournament and expressing hope that the victory would inspire more young people to take up the sport. In a post on X, the Prime Minister wrote, “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," he mentioned.

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. pic.twitter.com/U18avWmpP6— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 7, 2026 The congratulatory message came a day after India defeated defending champions Bangladesh 3-1 in the final to reclaim the regional crown. The victory marked India’s sixth SAFF Women’s Championship title and its first triumph in the tournament since 2019. India’s title-winning campaign was highlighted by an unbeaten run and dominant performances throughout the competition. The hosts finished the tournament with a perfect record, scoring 18 goals while conceding only once. In the final, India overcame Bangladesh with goals from Pyari Xaxa, Sanfida Nongrum and Lynda Kom Serto. Pyari opened the scoring in the 42nd minute, before Bangladesh’s Ritu Porna Chakma equalised in first-half stoppage time.

India responded immediately after the break, with Sanfida restoring the lead in the opening moments of the second half. Lynda then sealed the victory with a late goal in the 82nd minute. The triumph represented a significant comeback for the Indian side after disappointing campaigns in the previous two editions of the tournament. Despite winning the first five editions of the SAFF Women’s Championship, India failed to reach the final in both 2022 and 2024, with Bangladesh emerging as champions on each occasion. India had signalled its intent early in the tournament, opening its campaign with an emphatic 11-0 win over Maldives before defeating Bangladesh 3-0 in the group stage to top Group B. The title victory was accompanied by several individual honours for Indian players. Aveka Singh finished as the tournament’s top scorer with four goals, Sanfida Nongrum was named the Most Valuable Player, and goalkeeper Panthoi Chanu Elangbam received the Best Goalkeeper award.