Shillong, Aug 31: India suffered their only defeat in their last match of the SAFF U-17 Women’s Championship 2025, losing 4-3 to Bangladesh at the Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu, Bhutan, today.
Despite the defeat, the Young Tigresses were crowned champions, having earned an unassailable lead in the points table with a game in hand. India concluded the tournament with five wins and one loss. A change in format this year saw each team played the other three twice, with no knockouts.
The team will now travel to Bengaluru to continue preparations for the upcoming AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers in October in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
Two Meghalayans played important roles in the Indian team.
Alisha Lyngdoh (middle row, fifth right) started in all six matches. The defender played the full 90 minutes in four of these matches, while being on the pitch for 45 and 56 minutes in the other two.
Bonifilia Shullai (front row, third right) featured in all six games – once in the starting lineup and five times as a substitute. She donned the captain’s armband as well and also scored a goal against Bangladesh. That might have been all the sweeter for the midfielder as she was also part of the Indian team last year at the SAFF U-16 Women’s Championship in Nepal were the girls in blue were pipped in the final by Bangladesh.
(Photo: South Asian Football Federation/Facebook)
