Sports Reporter : Bangladesh has been crowned the champions of the first-ever SAFF Women’s Futsal Championship after a dominant 14-2 victory over the Maldives in their final league match on Sunday.
The win at the Nonthaburi Stadium in Thailand ensured Bangladesh finished at the top of the seven-nation table with 16 points from six matches, remaining unbeaten throughout the tournament.Despite needing only a draw to secure the title, Bangladesh faced an early scare when the Maldives took a surprise lead in the third minute following a defensive lapse.
However, the response was swift and clinical. Captain Sabina Khatun spearheaded the comeback, equalizing with a brilliant long-range free-kick in the fifth minute. Sabina eventually finished the match with four goals, while Lipi Akter also netted a hat-trick.The first half ended with Bangladesh comfortably leading 6-1, but the floodgates truly opened in the second period.
The “Tigresses” displayed exceptional pace and precision as Krishna Rani Sarkar, Matsushima Sumaiya, Nilufa Yasmin Nila, Meherun Akter and Masura Parvin all added to the tally. In total, Bangladesh scored a staggering 38 goals across their six matches in the competition.
Under the guidance of coach Saeid Khodarahmi, the team showcased superior tactical discipline, having previously defeated India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan, while drawing only against Bhutan. This victory marks another historic milestone for Bangladesh women’s sports, adding a major futsal trophy to their back-to-back SAFF football titles. In contrast, while the women celebrated their maiden title, the Bangladesh men’s team finished fifth in their edition of the tournament.
