VIDEO - NDTV: Indian Women's team defends SAFF title

The Indian Women's national team defended their SAFF Women's Cup title on Sunday in Colombo with a 3-1 victory against Nepal. And it is good to see that NDTV send down a crew to cover the final match and get some reactions after the triumph.

SAFF Women's Cup - Stats: India triumph again!

The second edition of the SAFF Women's Championship was organised by the South Asian Football Federation and the tournament was held from September 7 to 16 at the CR&FC Place ground in Colombo, Sri Lanka with India defending their crown.

The Indian Women went into the tournament as the defending champions having won the inaugural edition with a 1-0 final win against Nepal in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh in December 2010 and this time around they beat Nepal 3-1 in the final.

India were drawn in Group A along with Bangladesh, Bhutan and hosts Sri Lanka, while Group B contained Afghanistan, Maldives, Nepal and Pakistan.


RESULTS

Quarterfinal League

Group A
Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Sri Lanka

07-Sep-2012: India 3-0 Bangladesh
07-Sep-2012: Sri Lanka 4-0 Bhutan
09-Sep-2012: Sri Lanka 0-5 India
09-Sep-2012: Bangladesh 1-0 Bhutan
11-Sep-2012: Sri Lanka 2-1 Bangladesh
11-Sep-2012: India 11-0 Bhutan

Group B
Afghanistan, Maldives, Nepal and Pakistan

08-Sep-2012: Nepal 8-0 Pakistan
08-Sep-2012: Maldives 1-1 Afghanistan
10-Sep-2012: Nepal 5-0 Maldives
10-Sep-2012: Pakistan 0-4 Afghanistan
12-Sep-2012: Nepal 7-1 Afghanistan
12-Sep-2012: Maldives 2-3 Pakistan

Semifinals
14-Sep-2012: India 11-0 Afghanistan
14-Sep-2012: Nepal 3-0 Sri Lanka

Final
16-Sep-2012: India 3-1 Nepal

SAFF Women's Cup: India beat Nepal 3-1, defend title!

Defending champions India retained their title by defeating Nepal 3-1 in the final of the 2012 SAFF Women's Championship at the CR&FC Place ground in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Nepal took a surprise third minute lead through a Dipa Adhikari strike off a Anu Lama pass, but favourites India weren't shocked and equalised only five minutes later through a Supriya Routray goal. Thereafter it was an open game with better chances for India, but it remained one-all at the break as the Nepal defence was able to fend off the Indian attackers.

Nepal came out as the better team after the break, but they couldn't score of their chances and after about 10 minutes India took control of the game but missed a few chances before captain Oinam Bembem Devi put India ahead in the 66th minute. It remained an open game thereafter as Nepal missed a couple of chances, but India secured their victory with a goal from midfielder Yumnam Kamala Devi in the 83rd minute to make it 3-1.

In the end the Indian Women won 3-1 to win the 2nd edition of the SAFF Women's Championship and continue to dominate women's football in South Asia, but Nepal played a good match and tournament to pose a challenge to our Indian Women.


INDIA
Sita Sharma - Ashem Romi Devi, Kangujam Rebika Devi, Alochana Senapati, Suprava Samal - Supriya Routray, Yumnam Kamala Devi, Oinam Bembem Devi [C], Tuli Goon - Sasmita Malik, Irom Prameshwori Devi

NEPAL
Namita Dali - Bhagwati Thapa, Usha, Jamuna, Dipa Adhikari, Chandra, Anu Lama, Pramila Rai (Krishna Khatri), Niru Thapa, Sajana Rana (Laxmi Poudel), Ghim Kumari

SAFF Women's Cup: India look to retain title today

Defending champions India are looking to retain their SAFF Women's Championship title when they face neighbours Nepal this afternoon at the CR&FC grounds in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Anything but an Indian victory would be an upset as our Women are currently far superior then the rest of the South Asian region, but arrogance should be avoided.

After a slow start India has been on fire in the tournament beating Bangladesh (3-0), hosts Sri Lanka (5-0) and Bhutan (11-0) in the group stage before Afghanistan (11-0) in the semifinals. India has scored an impressive 30 goals with no goals conceded so far.

India were tested a little in their opener against Bangladesh, but thereafter the team led by Oinam Bembem Devi has been impressive in their display and they could have scored even more goals.

Nepal are hoping to score an upset by defeating India in the final. And the Nepali Women have had a good tournament of their own, the question is if they can challenge India and maybe get an early goal to upset their more famed rivals.

But coach Mohammed Shahid Jabbar is careful as he praised Nepal ahead of the final especially their hard working midfield and strikers, but also mentioned that Nepal does seem a little weak in defence which India will seek to utilise.

Coach Jabbar will surely prepare his team for the challenge ahead and one hopes that at the end India will lift their second SAFF Women's Cup title to maintain their unrivaled dominance in the South Asian region.

SAFF Women's Cup: India trash Afghanistan 11-0, reach finals!

Defending champions India scored their second 11-0 victory win in a row, this time against Afghanistan in the semifinals of the 2012 SAFF Women's Championship at the Longden Place ground in Colombo. India now await the winner of the Sri Lanka vs Nepal second semifinal to play on Sunday in the final.

India made a perfect start as Yumnam Kamala Devi fired them ahead in the 5th minute. As expected India were in control but they only scored their second in the 31st minute through Irom Prameshwori Devi and it was Prameshwori who set-up captain Oinam Bembem Devi to score India's third in the 40th minute. Only a couple of minutes later Sasmita Malik made it 4-0 and it remained so until the break.

India made a quite start into the second session, but then found their scoring boots again as they scored three goals in four minutes. First it was Yumnam Kamala Devi in the 57th minute, then Ashem Romi Devi in the 59th minute and against captain Oinam Bembem Devi to make it 7-0.

But it wasn't over for the Afghani women as India would add four more in the remaining 20 minutes. First captain Oinam Bembem Devi would score her third in the 70th minute, then Sasmita Malik her second of the day in the 78th minute before Pinky Bompal Magar joined the party by scoring India's 10th in the 81st minute. The final goal came in the 90th minute through Yumnam Kamala Devi, who had also scored India's first.

In the end it was another 11-0 win for India, who rather easily reached their second SAFF Women's Cup final and now have scored 30 goals in only four matches, conceding none.


INDIA
Sita Sharma - Ashem Romi Devi, Loitongbam Ashalata Devi, Alochana Senapati, Suprava Samal - Yumnam Kamala Devi, Oinam Bembem Devi [C], Tuli Goon - Sasmita Malik, Irom Prameshwori Devi, Pinky Bompal Magar

SAFF Women's Cup: India demolish Bhutan 11-0, top their group

Defending champions India demolished minnows Bhutan 11-0 to continue their winning run in the 2012 SAFF Women's Championship at the Longden Place ground in Colombo. India have topped Group A with three wins and move into the semifinals with a clean 19-0 statistic.

Bhutan were no match for India, but it took 13 minutes to take the lead which Tuli Goon scored off a cross which beats the keeper and goes into the goal. 10 minutes later midfielder Yumnam Kamala Devi doubled the score with an effort from outside the box. In the 27th minute Sasmita Mallick scored from a penalty and only three minutes later Yumnam Kamala Devi made it 4-0. In the 38th minute Pinky Bompal Magar would get her first before Irom Prameshwori Devi added India's sixth in the 42nd minute. It remained 6-0 at the break.

And it didn't get any better for Bhutan as india went on to score five more after the break. In thr 49th minute Pinky Bompal Magar scored her second of the day before India went on to score three goals in two minutes. Nameirakpam Montesori Chanu started it in the 63rd minute, Irom Prameshwori Devi scored her second a minute later and Pinky Bompal Magar scored her third of the day less then sixty seconds later.

Now Bhutan were heading for a very heavy defeat as the Himalayan nation were 10 goals down, but India went on to score only one more in the remaining 25 minutes though having more chances to score. The final goal was scored by Supriya Routray in the 73rd minute.

It ended 11-0 for India, who in the end easily top Group A and now await who they face in the semifinals.


INDIA
Sita Sharma - Ashem Romi Devi, Loitongbam Ashalata Devi, Alochana Senapati, Tuli Goon - Yumnam Kamala Devi, Oinam Bembem Devi [C], Nameirakpam Montesori Chanu - Sasmita Malik, Irom Prameshwori Devi, Pinky Bompal Magar

SAFF Women's Cup: India win 5-0 against hosts Sri Lanka

Defending champions India continued their winning run in the 2012 SAFF Women's Championship with a 5-0 trashing of hosts Sri Lanka at the Longden Place ground in Colombo.

As expected India were the better side on display, but they today needed time to settle down before a Suprava Samal strike gave them a 17th minute lead. Only six minutes later Salam Rinaroy Devi doubled the lead with a powerful shot from outside the box. It stayed 2-0 for India though they had more chances to score.

After the break India would go on to score three goals within fives minutes to seal the match in their favour. First Salam Rinaroy Devi scored her second of the day off a mistake in the Sri Lankan defence in the 51st minute, then Pinky Bompal Magar made it 4-0 two minutes later of another Sri Lankan mistake and then substitute Irom Prameshwori Devi scored India's fifth with just 56 minutes on the clock.

Thereafter India did have chances to score more, but they failed in their attempts as the match also slowed down with the outcome already clear in favour of the Indian Women's team. It ended 5-0 for India, who on Tuesday take on Bhutan in their third and final Group A match.


INDIA
Sita Sharma - Ashem Romi Devi, Loitongbam Ashalata Devi, Alochana Senapati, Suprava Samal - Supriya Routray, Oinam Bembem Devi [C], Nameirakpam Montesori Chanu - Sasmita Malik, Salam Rinaroy Devi, Pinky Bompal Magar

SAFF Women's Cup: India start with 3-0 win against Bangladesh!

Defending champions India made a successful start into the 2012 SAFF Women's Championship with a 3-0 win against Bangladesh at the Longden Place ground in Colombo, Sri Lanka. All three Indian goals were scored in the second session.

In the first session India had more problems with the heavy rains then their opponents from Bangladesh and after only 14 minutes the referee stopped play due to unplayable conditions. Over an hour later play resumed and it was India who took control of the game, but it would remain goalless at the break.

This would change after the break for the Shahid Jabbar coached Indian Women's team. It was striker Sasmita Malik who posed the biggest threat for Bangladesh, but the opening goal for India came through a strike from Yumnam Kamala Devi in the 64th minute. India kept on the pressure and doubled the lead in the 77th minute through a left-footer from captain Oinam Bembem Devi. The final goal came in the 90th minute through Alochana Senapati.

It ended 3-0 for India, who on Sunday take on hosts Sri Lanka in their second Group A match.


INDIA
Sita Sharma - Ashem Romi Devi, Kangujam Rebika Devi, Alochana Senapati, Suprava Samal - Supriya Routray (33' Irom Prameshwori Devi), Yumnam Kamala Devi, Oinam Bembem Devi [C], Nameirakpam Montesori Chanu - Sasmita Malik, Salam Rinaroy Devi (68' Pinky Bompal Magar)

AIFF name Bem Bem Devi as India captain for Women's SAFF Cup

The All India Football Federation has named Bem Bem Devi as the captain of the Indian national women's team for the 2012 SAFF Women's Championship to be played from September 7 to 16 at the Longden Place ground in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The Indian Women go into the tournament as the defending champions having won the inaugural edition with a 1-0 final win against Nepal in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh in December 2010.

India have been drawn in Group A along with Bangladesh, Bhutan and hosts Sri Lanka. India face Bangladesh in their opener on September 7, then play the hosts Sri Lanka on September 9 and then face Bhutan on September 11. The other Group B contains Afghanistan, Maldives, Nepal and Pakistan.


INDIA Women's Probables

Goalkeepers
Sita Sharma (Orissa), Aditi Chauhan (Delhi)

Defenders
Ashem Romi Devi (Manipur), Loitongbam Ashalata Devi (Manipur), Kangujam Rebika Devi (Manipur), Alochana Senapati (Orissa), Suprava Samal (Bihar), Tuli Goon (West Bengal)

Midfielders
Yumnam Kamala Devi (Manipur), Yumlembam Premi Devi (Manipur), Montessori Chanu (Manipur), Oinam Bembem Devi (Manipur), Supriya Routray (Orissa), Lochana Munda (Orissa)

Forwards
Irom Prameshwori Devi (Manipur), Salam Rinaroy Devi (Manipur), Laishram Naobi Chanu (Manipur), Raju Suganya (Tamil Nadu), Pinky Bompal Magar (Orissa), Sasmita Malik (Orissa)

Officials
Shahid Jabbar (Chief Coach); Pratima Biswas (Assistant Coach), Mutum Surmala Chanu (Assistant Coach); Ranjita Mohanty (Goalkeeping Coach); Poulami Ghosh (West Bengal); Khyati Sharma (Physiotherapist); Sudeshna Mukherjee (Manager)

India to defend SAFF Women's Cup title in Sri Lanka next month

The second SAFF Women's Championship will once again be organised by the South Asian Football Federation and the tournament will be held from September 7 to 16 at the Longden Place ground in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The Indian Women go into the tournament as the defending champions having won the inaugural edition with a 1-0 final win against Nepal in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh in December 2010.

India have been drawn in Group A along with Bangladesh, Bhutan and hosts Sri Lanka. India face Bangladesh in their opener on September 7, then play the hosts Sri Lanka on September 9 and then face Bhutan on September 11. The other Group B contains Afghanistan, Maldives, Nepal and Pakistan.

Interestingly both these groups had been drawn with the same set of four teams as two years ago at the 1st SAFF Women's Championship.

30 Indian Women probables are currently sweating it out at the SAI Eastern Centre to make the final 20 players squad which will fly across to Sri Lanka. India go into the tournament as the big title favourites, especially after having scored 41 goals and conceded only one in their title triumph in 2010.


FIXTURES

Quarterfinal League

Group A
Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Sri Lanka

07-Sep-2012: India - Bangladesh
07-Sep-2012: Sri Lanka - Bhutan
09-Sep-2012: Sri Lanka - India
09-Sep-2012: Bangladesh - Bhutan
11-Sep-2012: Sri Lanka - Bangladesh
11-Sep-2012: India - Bhutan

Group B
Afghanistan, Maldives, Nepal and Pakistan

08-Sep-2012: Nepal - Pakistan
08-Sep-2012: Maldives - Afghanistan
10-Sep-2012: Nepal - Maldives
10-Sep-2012: Pakistan - Afghanistan
12-Sep-2012: Nepal - Afghanistan
12-Sep-2012: Maldives - Pakistan

Semifinals
14-Sep-2012: Winner Group A - Runners-Up Group B
14-Sep-2012: Winner Group B - Runners-Up Group A

Final
16-Sep-2012: Winner SF1 - Winner SF2

AIFF name India Probables for Women's SAFF Cup camp in Kolkata

The All India Football Federation will organise a preparatory camp for the India Women's team for the forthcoming SAFF Women's Championship scheduled to kick-off in Sri Lanka on September 1. The initial phase of the Camp will be held at the Sports Authority of India - Eastern Centre in Kolkata from July 16 to 31 where 45 players have been asked to report.

The next phase of the Camp will also be held at the same venue from August 1 to 31 and the list of probables will be cut down to 30 ahead of naming the final squad for the tournament.


INDIA Women's Probables

Goalkeepers
Sita Sharma, Aditi Chauhan, Roshini Devi, Swarnamayee Samal, Anjana Saikia, Rashmi Kumari

Defenders
Romi Devi, Radharani Devi, Ashalata Devi, Rashmita Patra, Alochana Senapati, Bijay Laxmi Sahu, Suprava Samal, Nagi Mardi, Reema Noronha, Kusumika Das, Tuli Goon, Prerna Mishra, Ansha, Bijaya Devi, Rebika Devi

Midfielders
Kamala Devi, Premi Devi, Supriya Routray, Manisha Panna, Amoolya, Puja Bhatt, Satish Kumari, Sharon Fernandez, Riya Arya, Lochana Munda, Montessori Chanu, O. Bembem Devi, Manpreet

Forwards
Parmeshwari Devi, Nima Lamhu Bhutia, Ng. Bala Devi, Michel Margaret Castanha, Reena Roy, R. Suganya, Swati Rawat, Sabina Minz, Naobi Chanu, Pinky Bompal Magar, Sasmita Malik

Stand-Byes
Jabamani Soren, Puja Karmakar, Kalpana Roy, Paramita Sit, Nasoba Allam, Jibisha

Officials
Shahid Jabbar (Chief Coach); Pratima Biswas (Assistant Coach), Surmala Chanu (Assistant Coach); Ranjita Mohanty (Goalkeeping Coach); Khyati Sharma (Physiotherapist); Sudeshna Mukherjee (Manager)

VIDEO: 2011 SAFF Cup promo

The 2011 SAFF Cup (South Asian Football Federation Championships) will be played from December 2 to 11, 2011 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi. The tournament organisers World Sports Group have now released a promotional video for the tournament.

SAFF Cup: Does India want change of venue and dates?

Original plans were to play the next edition of the SAFF Cup (South Asian Football Federation Championships) in December 2011 in Cuttack, Orissa. But this decision, whoever made it, has come under much criticism over recent weeks as Cuttack simply does not have the necessary infrastructure to host eight football national teams in the city.

There was speculation that New Delhi could play hosts to the regional tournament, maybe a combination of Ambedkar Stadium and Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, hosting the matches. But now rumours say that the All India Football Federation is trying not only to push for a change of venue, but also for a preponement of the tournament to better fit into the 2011/12 Indian football calendar.

Reports have appeared in the Times of India and in newspapers in Bangladesh which say that with knowledge of the SAFF Secretary Alberto Colaco, who happens to be the former AIFF General Secretary, the AIFF was looking at hosting the SAFF Cup in Delhi but if possible in October.

This piece of information seems to have created confusion amongst SAFF members as all nations were preparing their national sides for a December tournament. Even the SAFF president Kazi Salahuddin seems unaware of the latest developments and did not want to comment until the AIFF send in a formal request.

One will have to wait and watch what happens, but why such a move is happening so late has to be questioned.

Under-16 SAFF Cup: India squad announced

The first-ever edition of the Under-16 boys South Asian Football Federation Championships (SAFF Cup) will be played from August 1 to 10, 2011 in Kathmandu Nepal. Six nations in Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and hosts Nepal are taking part. The two other SAFF members Afghanistan and Bhutan are not taking part.

The teams have now all arrived in Kathmandu ahead of the draw tomorrow. The six teams will be divided into two groups of three teams each with each team playing two matches in the group stage. The top two nations from each group move into the semifinals. On the final day there will be position matches, first the 5th/6th Place Playoff, then the 3rd Place Playoff and then the grand finale.

India have named a 23 player squad for the tournament after two months of preparations at the Assolna, Cuncolim and Chowgule College grounds in Goa. Coach Thomas Joseph has high expectations of his boys to deliver.


INDIA Under-16

Goalkeepers
Avinash Kumar Rao, Agiapal Singh, Supratim Bhattacharya

Defenders
Myron Sezie Mendes, Maibham Jimmy Singh, Aula Kanyeha, Suman Saha, Mohammed Sajid Dhoot, Sarthak Golui, Randhwa Sukhjit Singh, Nabin Rabha

Midfielders
Kamalpreet Singh, Harmanjot Singh, Nitin Jyal, Germanpreet Singh, Khiangte Lalramzauva, Lalrammuana, Raja Rawat, Daniel Lalhlimpuia

Strikers
Vanlalthlamuana, Vanlalduatsanga, Prokash Majumdar, Jagannath Oraon

Officials
Thomas Joseph (Coach), C.M. Ranjith (Manager-cum-Coach), Mario Aguair (Goalkeeper coach), Babu Sampath (Physio)

SAFF to organise more tournaments

The South Asian Football Federation was formed in 1997 with six founding members (Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka) while Bhutan in 2000 and Afghanistan in 2005 joined later. Now SAFF is eight nations strong and the organisation last year finally decided to expand its footballing activities from just organising the South Asian Football Federation Championships for Men.

The first seminar for South Asian Football Federation Member Associations was held last week in New Delhi and there it was decided to launch three new tournaments this year - the SAFF Club Championships, an Under-16 Youth Tournament for Boys, an Under-13 Football Festival for Boys - following the launch of the SAFF Women's Cup last year.

The inaugural SAFF Club Championship would be hosted by Bangladesh from September 1 to 15. Two club each from the host country Bangladesh and India plus one club each from the other six nations would take part in the biannual event. The exact format would be decided in consultation with the organising Bangladesh Football Federation.

The first ever SAFF Under-16 Championships would be hosted by Nepal in July/August 2011. So far hosts Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have confirmed their participation, while replies from Afghanistan, Maldives and Bhutan are still awaited.

The AIFF also proposed to organise an Under-13 Football Festival for Boys, which was accepted by the other SAFF members. When and where the Under-13 festival will be held has still to be finalised though India looks the most likely host.

The upcoming SAFF Cup will be hosted by defending champions India from December 1 to 15. And from now on the SAFF Championships would be hosted every alternate year during the first half of December. Finally the SAFF Cup has a fixed slot in the calendar.

Last year the inaugural SAFF Women's Cup was successfully hosted by Bangladesh. The next edition would be held in 2012 with Sri Lanka volunteering to host the tournament if no other nation comes forward to organise it.

Women's SAFF Cup: India are champions!

The final of the first-ever Women's SAFF Cup (South Asian Football Federation Championships) played earlier today was a close affair at Cox's Bazar Stadium in Bangladesh with tournament favourites India beating neighbours Nepal by only a goal. With this win India lifted the first-ever Women's SAFF Cup title.

And once more India won a women's football final on Bangladeshi soil against Nepal. Earlier this year the same two sides had faced each other in the final of the South Asian Games football tournament in Dhaka, which India won 3-1 to win the first ever women's football gold medal.

The match was a close affair with the Nepali women often matching their more experienced Indian rivals. It remained goalless after a tense first session, but then midfielder Sasmita Mallick would score in the 65th minute which would remain the only goal of the final. And after the final whistle was blown it was party time for the Indian women.

The Indian Women's national team has had a great run throughout the tournament. In the group stage India had walked through their Group A with an 18-0 hammering of minnows Bhutan, then a 7-0 trashing of Sri Lanka and in the final group game a 6-0 win against hosts Bangladesh. Then an 8-0 followed against archrivals Pakistan in the semifinals before the 1-0 final victory against Nepal. This means our Indian women scored 40 goals and conceded none in their five games, a really impressive piece of statistic.

My congratulations to the Indian Women's team, coaches and support staff!!!

Women's SAFF Cup: India face Nepal in finals

The final of the first-ever Women's SAFF Cup (South Asian Football Federation Championships) will be played tomorrow at Cox's Bazar Stadium in Bangladesh with tournaments favourites India facing neighbours Nepal. The match will kick-off at 13.30 local time (13.00 IST).

Once more the Indian women's national team will depend on a strong performance from midfielder Sasmita Mallick besides the strikers Ng. Bala Devi, T. Tababi Devi and Pinky Bompal Magar, who all have been scoring goals at will against opponents who lack the international exposure of our Indian team. But Nepal has been the other expection in this tournament, so maybe it could be a close encounter though India go into this final as the big title favourites.

The Indian Women's national team has had a great run through the tournament so far. In the group stage India had walked through Group A with an opening 18-0 hammering of minnows Bhutan, then a 7-0 trashing of Sri Lanka and in the final group game a 6-0 win against hosts Bangladesh. And then an 8-0 followed against archrivals Pakistan in the semifinals. This means our Indian women have so far scored 39 goals and conceded none in their four games, a really impressive performance.

But the Nepali Women's road to the finals has also been quite impressive. They easily won Group B with an all-win record. It started with a 6-0 win against the Maldives, a crushing 13-0 win against Afghanistan followed, before they demolished Pakistan in a 12-0 victory. In the semifinals they then beat the hosts Bangladesh 3-0. It means they have scored 34 goals, while conceding none. And statistically are only five goals worse then India.

Women's SAFF Cup: India trash Pakistan, reach final

The Indian Women's national team continued their great run in the first-ever Women's SAFF Cup by beating archrivals Pakistan 8-0 in the first semifinal at Cox's Bazar Stadium in Bangladesh. India will now wait to see who wins tomorrow's second semifinal between Nepal and Bangladesh and will face that side in the final on Thursday, December 23.

India were leading 7-0 at the break against another opponent who just wasn't up to our standard. This time Ng. Bala Devi scored three, while Gayatri Mallick scored twice with Sasmita Malick, Amoolya Kamal and Manpreet Kaur also got onto the score sheet.

Ng. Bala Devi opened the scoring in the 18th minute with Gayatri Mallick doubling the lead in the 26th minute before Ng. Bala Devi would score two quick goals in the 31st and 32nd minute to already seal the win just after the half hour mark. And only a minute later midfielder Sasmita Malick would make it 5-0, but this wasn't the end of scoring in the first session as Gayatri Mallick would score her second and India's sixth in the 39th minute before Amoolya Kamal made it 7-0 at the stroke of halftime. India would once more not press too hard in the second session and Manpreet Kaur would make it eight just two minutes from time to finish off a memorable 8-0 victory.

In the group stage India had walked through Group A with a 18-0 hammering of minnows Bhutan, then a 7-0 trashing of Sri Lanka and in the final group game a 6-0 win against hosts Bangladesh. This means our Indian women have so far scored 39 goals and conceded none in their four games, a really impressive performance.

Women's SAFF Cup: India also trash hosts

The Indian Women's national team continued their winning run in the first-ever Women's SAFF Cup by beating the hosts Bangladesh 6-0 in the city of Cox's Bazar. With the third win in as many matches it ensures that India top Group A. Today's goals came from Kamala Devi, Sasmita Mallick and T. Tababi Devi.

It was once more India all the way. Kamala Devi gave India a early 7th minute opening goal with Kamala herself doubling the lead in the 18th minute. Only five minutes later Sasmita Mallick would get onto the scoresheet for the first and in the 26th minute Kamala Devi would score her third and India's fourth goal of the day. But the rout wasn't offer yet for the Bangladeshi women as T. Tababi Devi would score India's fifth in the 39th minute before Sasmita Mallick would finish off the scoring in the first session itself in the 43rd minute. But India couldn't add to this tally after the break and Bangladesh can proudly say that they held India goalless over 45 minutes.

In earlier Group A matches India had hammered Bhutan 18-0, while the Indian women had trashed Sri Lanka 7-0 in their second group game. This means our Indian women have so far scored 31 goals and conceded none, a really impressive performance so far.

Now in the semifinals India would face our archrivals Pakistan, who qualified as the second placed side in Group B, on Monday, December 20. The other semifinal would see Group B winners Nepal taking on hosts Bangladesh on Sunday, December 19.

Women's SAFF Cup: India trash Sri Lanka

The Indian Women's national team continued their great run in the first-ever Women's SAFF Cup (South Asian Football Federation Championships) by trashing Sri Lanka 7-0 in the Bangladeshi city of Cox's Bazar earlier today. The tournaments title favourites were leading 4-0 at half-time.

Once more midfielder Sasmita Mallick was the best scorer as she scored three of India's goals with Pinky Bompal Magar scoring a brace plus Ng. Bala Devi and T. Tababi Devi also getting on the scoresheet.

India never allowed the Sri Lankans to get into the game and took an early second minute lead through Ng. Bala Devi and in the remainder of the first session Sasmita Mallick would score a perfect hattrick with goals in the 18th, 30th and 45th minute. Four minutes into the second session T. Tababi Devi would make it 5-0 for India before Pinky Bompal Magar rounded it off with two goals in the 51st and 60th minute.

After their opening round 18-0 trashing of Bhutan, India have scored 25 goals and conceded none, which means they have qualified for the semifinals. In their final Group A game our women now face the hosts Bangladesh on Friday, December 17.