On Saturday, 6 June 2026, as confetti rained down on the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Margao, Goa, India's women's football team reclaimed their place atop South Asian football. The Blue Tigresses defeated defending champions Bangladesh 3-1 in the SAFF Women's Championship final, securing their record sixth regional title after a seven-year drought. It was a moment that belonged to the entire squad—but also to one legendary figure saying goodbye.
The magnitude of India's victory lay not just in the scoreline, but in how they arrived there. Under head coach Crispin Chettri, India marched through the tournament with an unblemished record, winning all four matches while scoring 18 goals and conceding just once. They had dismantled the Maldives 11-0 and blanked Bangladesh 3-0 in the group stage, then edged past Bhutan 1-0 in the semifinals. The team ranked World No. 69 came to Goa with momentum that felt inevitable.
Yet the final proved anything but routine. In a tense first half, Bangladesh—ranked 112th but carrying the resolve of back-to-back champions—came to compete. It was Pyari Xaxa who broke through in the 42nd minute, her shot deflecting off defender Surovi Akter and looping over goalkeeper Mile Akter's reach. India had the lead, but not for long. Deep into stoppage time, Ritu Porna Chakma found space down the left wing and drove a grounded shot into the far corner. At halftime, the match was locked at 1-1, Bangladesh's only goal of the entire tournament coming when it mattered most.
The second half belonged entirely to India. Forty seconds after the restart, Xaxa sprinted down the right flank and delivered a precise cross. Sanfida Nongrum, unmarked in the box, timed her run perfectly and powered a header off the post and into the net. The 2-1 lead shifted everything—India's midfield took control, their defence remained resolute, and Bangladesh's chances dwindled. Goalkeeper Panthoi Chanu made a crucial save on a looping delivery from Maria Manda, anchoring what became a decisive defensive performance.
The final blow arrived in the 82nd minute when a Bangladesh defensive error left a loose ball in the box. Substitute Lynda Kom Serto reacted with lightning speed, slotting the ball past the goalkeeper to seal the 3-1 victory. Forward Aveka Singh had been the tournament's highest scorer with four goals, and throughout the campaign India's depth across the pitch—from goalkeeper to outfield players—had proven overwhelming.
But the night's most poignant moment came after the final whistle. Amid the cascading confetti, veteran winger Dangmei Grace stepped forward to announce her retirement from international football. Grace, a certified legend of the Indian women's game, was closing the book on 95 international caps and three SAFF Championship titles. Her final match ended the way it had to—with India lifting the trophy, with her team celebrating, and with a career that had helped build this very dominance now passing the torch to the next generation.