SAFF Women's Championship 2026: India Score 11 Past Maldives In Tournament Opener

India opened their 2026 SAFF Women's Championship with an 11-0 win. They beat the Maldives in Group B at PJN Stadium, Margao, on Monday, May 25. It was India's first international women's match in Goa and their biggest SAFF win since 2014.

Forward Aveka Singh scored four goals in the rout. Priyangka Devi Naorem and Karishma Shirvoikar added two each. Pyari Xaxa, Grace Dangmei, and Sangita Basfore scored one goal apiece. India ranked 69th by FIFA. The Maldives are ranked 167th.

The result put India at the top of Group B with three points. They next face Bangladesh at the same venue on Sunday, May 31, at 19:30 IST. If the Maldives do not beat Bangladesh on May 28, India will reach the semi-finals early.

Earlier in Group A, Nepal defeated Bhutan 1-0. In Margao, India pressed high from the start and attacked wide. Sarita Yumnam was key on the right. An early Pyari goal was ruled offside before Priyangka scored in the 11th minute on her injury return.

Priyangka doubled the lead after a pass from Aveka. Pyari curled in the third from outside the box. Aveka scored from a long free-kick for the fourth. Grace finished a short corner for the fifth, as India entered half-time in full control.

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SAFF Women's Championships 2026: Second Half

After the break, substitute Karishma headed in Sarita's cross for 6-0. Sangita drove in the seventh after an Aveka pass. Aveka then headed the eighth from a corner. Karishma finished a Malavika cross for 9-0, her first brace for India.

Aveka scored her hat-trick in the 70th minute from Karishma's pass. She then headed Malavika's cross in the 86th minute for her fourth. India kept pressing despite the heat, with head coach Crispin Chettri urging more attacks from the touchline.