India ends BD's hope for hat-trick 

 
Bangladesh's quest for an unprecedented hat-trick of SAFF Women's Championship titles came to a painful halt on Saturday night as India reclaimed the regional crown with a 3-1 victory in the final at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Madgao in the Indian state of Goa.

The defending champions had arrived in the football-mad state chasing history, hoping to become the first side to win three consecutive SAFF women's titles. Instead, it was India who emerged from the shadows of recent disappointments to restore their supremacy on home soil and lift the trophy for a sixth time.

For a fleeting moment, Bangladesh dared to believe. Ritu Porna Chakma's sublime stoppage-time equaliser had cancelled out Pyari Xaxa's opener and restored parity at the interval. Yet the dream unravelled shortly after the restart as India seized the initiative and never relinquished it.

The final unfolded in Margao, one of Indian football's traditional heartlands, where the atmosphere crackled with anticipation from the opening whistle. Bangladesh showed early attacking intent and nearly struck first in the 12th minute when Ritu Porna burst down the left and picked out Tohura Khatun, whose inviting delivery narrowly evaded Shamsunnahar Junior inside the box.

Two minutes later, Tohura again threatened to break through, but India's defence stood firm.

As the first half progressed, the tide gradually began to turn. Avika Singh came within inches of breaking the deadlock with a towering header that skimmed past the crossbar, before goalkeeper Mile Akter produced a superb save to deny Manisha from close range.