Bangladesh women's team got off to a winning start in the SAFF Women’s Futsal Championship beating India by 3-1 goals in a match held at Nonthaburi Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand on Thursday.
Captain Sabina Khatun was the architect of Bangladesh's resounding victory scoring two goals that gave Bangladesh a 2-0 lead in the first half after Krishna Rani Sarkar did the spadework.
The early breakthrough came for Bangladesh when Sabina scored the first goal with a perfect finishing in the 7th minute and doubled the lead scoring second goal in the 13th minute with a shot after taking a cross from Krishna.
India tried their best to get back into the game in the second half. Goalkeeper Jhilik made some good saves. Sumaiya Matsushima made the score line 3-0 with a long range shot in the 31st minute.
India, however, responded with a goal a few minutes later but it was not enough to salvage their pride and eventually they had to leave the field with defeat.
In 2018, the Bangladesh women's team participated in the Asian Futsal qualifiers in Thailand. After seven years, Sabina and her team got the opportunity to play in international Futsal championship again.
Bangladesh will play their next match against Bhutan (17 January), Nepal (19 January), Sri Lanka (21 January), Pakistan (23 January) and Maldives (25 January).
India earlier opened the campaign with an overwhelming 11-1 win over Maldives.
The table toppers at the end of all seven rounds of matches will be crowned in the SAFF Women's Futsal champions.