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Published : 25 Jan 2026, 12:12 PM
The Maldives were the first to take the lead. But it was to be their only spark of joy in a one-sided thrashing.
Soon enough Sabina Lhatun and Masura Parvin had levelled the score, and the goals began to flow. In the end, the Tigresses etched their names onto the first SAFF Women's Futsal Championship in style.
The score was 14-2 in favour of Bangladesh in their sixth and final match of the round-robin league in Thailand’s capital, Bangkok, on Sunday. The team topped the league with 16 points – five wins and one loss – from six matches.
The Tigresses began the campaign by defeating India 3-1. They then drew the second match to Bhutan at 3-3. They then hit their stride, beating Nepal 3-0, Sri Lanka 6-2, and Pakistan 9-1 in the next three matches.
After the win over Pakistan, the trophy seemed at the Tigress’ fingertips. But the Maldives had an early surprise, taking the lead in the fourth minute. Sania Ibrahim's touch bounced off the gloves of Jhilir and came off Masura's body before bounding towards the net. Despite several attempts, Masura could not keep it out.
Shortly after, Sabina equalised with a fantastic strike from a long-range free kick, kicking off Bangladesh's comeback. Bangladesh were awarded a penalty when Krishna Rani Sarkar was fouled in the circle, but Sabina disappointed with a shot that went wide. The Bangladesh captain soon made amends by striking home another free kick from outside the circle.
The team then asserted its dominance with four successive goals in the final five minutes of the first half. Krishna latched onto Sabina's pass and made the scoreline 3-1 with a strike from the far corner. Then, Nilufa Yesmin Nila brought Krishna's pass under control before teeing it up for Lipi Akter to run up the deficit with a tap in. Lipi scored again from inside the circle, while Nouson Jahan added another to leave Bangladesh at a 6-1 advantage at the break.
Sabina completed her hat-trick with a shot from distance in the third minute of the second half to pile on the misery. A little later, Matsushima Sumaya increased the gap. Sabina notched another goal with a bullet off her right foot, taking the scoreline to 9-1.
In the 10th minute of the half, Nila took the team to double digits before completing her hat-trick soon after off an assist from Sabina. Bangladesh ended the rout with authority by netting three more goals. Though the Maldives were able to pull one back just before the final whistle, it did not dampen the Tigress’ triumph at the final whistle.
