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On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his congratulations to the Indian women's football team for their remarkable victory in the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Women's Championship. He expressed optimism that this achievement would inspire more young athletes to engage in the sport.

The Indian team secured the SAFF Women's Championship title after a seven-year gap, triumphing over the defending champions, Bangladesh, with a score of 3-1 in a thrilling final held at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa on Saturday.

In a post on X, PM Modi stated, "Congratulations to the Indian Women's Football Team on winning the SAFF Women's Championship 2026. They have played excellently throughout the tournament. This will encourage more youngsters to play football in the coming times. Best wishes to the team for their future endeavors."

In the final match, India saw goals from Pyari Xaxa in the 42nd minute, Sanfida Nongrum in the 46th minute, and Lynda Kom Serto in the 82nd minute. Ritu Porna Chakma scored the only goal for Bangladesh in the first-half stoppage time.

Pyari Xaxa opened the scoring for India, but Ritu Porna Chakma equalized just before halftime. Sanfida Nongrum quickly regained the lead for India at the start of the second half, and Lynda Kom Serto's late goal ensured India's victory, marking their sixth title win.

As the match concluded, the significance of the victory resonated within the Indian camp. Sanfida Nongrum, who played a pivotal role in the tournament, celebrated with teammate Dangmei Grace, who announced her retirement after the match.

The atmosphere was filled with joy as players and staff celebrated India's return to the top of South Asian women's football for the first time since 2019.

Grace, a stalwart of the Indian women's football scene, represented the nation 95 times since her debut in 2013, concluding her international career on a high note with her third SAFF title.

This victory capped off an extraordinary campaign for the hosts, who won all four of their matches, netting 18 goals while conceding only one. They also thwarted Bangladesh's attempt to secure a historic third consecutive title.

The final showcased the fierce rivalry between the two strongest teams in the region, with Bangladesh entering as the defending champions and India eager to reclaim a title that had slipped away in the previous two editions.