Bangladesh women beat India in futsal debut

Bangladesh women’s national futsal team marked their international debut in emphatic fashion, vanquishing India 3-1 with a confident and tactically disciplined display.

The hosts took early control through aggressive pressing and intelligent match management, maintaining authority from start to finish.

Bangladesh struck first in the seventh minute when Krishna Rani Sarkar set up captain Sabina Khatun, whose precise finish not only opened the scoring but also made her the country’s first-ever international women’s futsal goalscorer.

The lead doubled six minutes later. Sabina capitalised on another Krishna Rani Sarkar delivery from the left, deceiving both defender and goalkeeper to score her second of the match.

India pushed forward after the break but were repeatedly denied by goalkeeper Shopna Akter Jili, who produced a series of crucial saves.

Bangladesh extended their advantage in the 31st minute as Sumaya Matsushima fired home a long-range strike following a midfield transition.

India pulled one back in the 36th minute, but the result was never in doubt.

After the match, Sabina said the victory was only the beginning. “The first match was against India. I hope the people of Bangladesh are very happy with this win. We still have five more matches to play,” she said, urging fans to pray for the team’s success.

Head coach Saeid Khodarahmi praised his players’ effort, calling it “a very good performance,” while stressing that the tournament is far from over.

NSA