India settled as runners-up in the SAFF U-19 Women Championship, losing to hosts Bangladesh by a solitary goal in the final at the Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Shipahi Mostafa Kamal Stadium, Dhaka today. The only goal of the game was scored by Anai Mogini in the 80th minute.

This was the second win Bangladesh over India in this tournament. At the league stage Bangladesh had also beaten India 1-0. Earlier, Defending champions Bangladesh finished at the top of the five-team league with 10 points from four matches, while India occupied the second spot with nine points.

India won three matches in at the league stage, beating Sri Lanka 5-0, Bhutan 3-0 and Nepal 1-0. The 23-member Indan team featured only one player from Odisha _ goalkeeper Manju Ganjhu. Alex Mario Ambrose was the head coach of the team. Tournament was first held in 2018 in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

INDIA U-19 WOMEN FOOTBALL TEAM: Goalkeepers: Anshika, Adrija Sarkhel, Manju Ganjhu. Defenders: Astam Oraon, Nisha, Nirmala Devi, Purnima Kumari, Shilky Devi, Ritu Devi, Kritina Devi. Midfielders: Poonam, Nitu Linda, Babina Devi, Santosh, Priyangka Devi, Mariyammal Balamurugan, Anju. Forwards: Karen Estrocio, Amisha Baxla, Lynda Kom Serto, Sumati Kumari, Apurna Narzary, Santhiya Nadupatti Venugadajalam. Head Coach: Alex Mario Ambrose.

RESULTS:
December 13: India (Santosh 2nd, Karen Estrocio 5th, Nitu Linda 9th, 41st; Priyanka Devi 82nd) beat Sri Lanka 5-0.
December 15: India (Sumati Kumari 7th, Naorem Priyangka Devi 41st, 53rd) beat Bhutan 3-0.
December 17: India lost to Bangladesh (S Shamsunnahar 7th-P) 0-1.
December 19: India (Priyangka Devi 66th) beat Nepal 1-0.
December 22 (Final): India lost to Bangladesh (Anai Mogini 80th) 0-1.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PHOTO: Indian team at a photo session on 8 December 2021 before leaving for Bangladesh to participate in the SAFF U-19 Women Championship in Dhaka.