MARGAO, GOA: Not every tournament begins with a warning. Some begin quietly with a narrow win, a moment of adjustment, a team still finding itself. The Indian women’s football team chose something different. On the opening night of the SAFF Women’s Championship 2026 at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda, Margao, the Blue Tigresses did not simply begin their campaign; they took hold of it against Maldives.
By the end of ninety minutes, the scoreboard read 11–0, India stood at the top of Group B with three points and a +11 goal difference, and the rest of the competition had been handed an early reminder: this side has arrived with intent. There was excitement around this Indian side heading into the tournament, but also expectation. India remain one of the most decorated women’s teams in South Asia; yet every new campaign brings fresh pressure and fresh opportunity.
Under head coach Crispin Chettri (with Amelia Valverde having left after the Women’s Asian Cup), this tournament feels less about defending history and more about creating momentum and building a side capable of matching ambition with consistency. From the opening whistle, that intent was visible. India were patient but purposeful. There was no rush to force moments. Instead, they trusted movement, combinations and control. Grace Dangmei drifted across the attacking line, linking play and creating space.
Sangita Basfore looked sharp in midfield, constantly turning possession into progression. Pyari Xaxa kept stretching the Maldivian backline with intelligent runs. And then came the breakthrough. In the 11th minute, Priyangka Devi attempted a perfectly weighted ball. She took her moment with confidence and opened India’s account for the tournament. It was not a goal born out of chaos. It felt rehearsed, calm, and certain.
Six minutes later, India struck again. This time, Aveka Singh helped create the opening, and Priyangka finished once more to double both her tally and India’s lead. Two goals in seventeen minutes transformed control into momentum. Priyangka’s performance deserved attention beyond the numbers. Her movement inside the box, her awareness of space and her timing gave India exactly the kind of early authority opening matches demand.
Aveka Singh was the Player of the Match, having scored four goals
But the Blue Tigresses were only getting started. Pyari Xaxa had already seen one effort ruled out and could easily have hung back without creating chances. Instead, she kept asking questions. In the 28th minute, she got her reward. Her goal felt symbolic of India’s performance, which was relentless, patient and earned through repetition rather than luck. Then the spotlight found Aveka Singh. Her first goal arrived in the 34th minute. At the time, it felt like another name joining the scoresheet. By the end of the night, it would feel like the beginning of something unforgettable.
Before half-time, captain Dangmei added her name to the scoresheet as well, which was a deserved moment for a player who had quietly shaped the tempo of India’s attack all evening. Five goals up at the break, India could have slowed down. Instead, they returned looking even hungrier. That perhaps says the most about this team under Chhetri. This was not a side protecting a comfortable lead but a side chasing standards.
Then, Karishma Shirvoikar was brought on, and she immediately made an impact, finding the net and adding fresh energy to an already relentless attack. Basfore, who had already played the creator, stepped into the spotlight herself and got her goal, capping off a complete midfield performance. And through it all, Aveka arrived with a quadruple of goals. Each goal looked to build her confidence further. Each finish felt cleaner than the last. By the time she completed her four-goal haul in the 86th minute, the game had become hers.
But reducing the night to Aveka alone would feel unfair to what was, essentially, a team performance. This was a showing built collectively. Dangmei led. Basfore created and delivered. Xaxa never stopped threatening. Shirvoikar made every minute count. Priyangka set the tone, and Aveka finished the story. When the final whistle arrived, there was celebration, but there was also composure.
Because the truth is, this team knows one result changes nothing. There lie bigger tests ahead. Tougher opponents. Harder nights. But opening nights matter. They set the rhythm. They create belief. They announce ambition. India left matchday one exactly where they wanted to be – at the top of Group B, with three points, eleven goals scored, and none conceded. The tournament has only just begun. But the Blue Tigresses have already made sure everyone is watching.
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