SAFF Women's Championship 2026: Updated points table, most goals after India vs Maldives
India begin the SAFF Women’s Championship 2026 on a winning note
India had a dominating start to their SAFF Women’s Championship 2026 campaign, as they thrashed Maldives 11-0 in their opening match at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa on 25th May 2026, Monday.
The Blue Tigresses started with intent and wasted little time making the pressure count. Priyangka opened the scoring in the 10th minute, setting the tone for what would become a one-sided contest. She struck again in the 17th minute, giving India an early cushion and allowing them to settle into their rhythm.
Maldives struggled to cope with India’s movement, pace and attacking combinations as the game continued to tilt heavily in one direction.
India kept pushing instead of protecting the lead. Pyari Xaxa added the third in the 29th minute, rewarding another wave of sustained attacking pressure.
Then came the beginning of Aveka Singh’s unforgettable night, with her first goal arriving in the 34th minute. Later Dangmei also scored a goal in the 39th minute to send India into the break with complete control and a five-goal advantage.
The second half became an area of dominance for India. The Blue Tigresses returned after the interval with even greater intensity and immediately continued their dominance.
Karishma Shirvoikar found the net in the 53rd minute, before the goals continued to flow. Aveka struck again in the 66th minute, with Sangita also getting on the scoresheet as India turned sustained possession into relentless punishment.
Karishma completed her brace in the 69th minute, while Aveka added her third in the 70th minute to complete her hat-trick and put the game completely beyond reach.
But the Blue Tigresses were not done. With Maldives struggling and India continuing to attack until the final whistle, Aveka completed a stunning four-goal haul in the 86th minute, putting the finishing touch on an emphatic 11–0 victory.
A brief look at the points table
India make the perfect start to their SAFF Women’s Championship 2026 campaign, going top of Group B after a commanding 11–0 victory over Maldives. With three points, and 11 goals scored without reply, the Blue Tigresses have immediately put themselves in a strong position heading into the remaining group-stage fixture.
Bangladesh are yet to begin their campaign and remain level on points with Maldives. With India already setting a high benchmark in the group, their opening fixture becomes even more important in the race for qualification.
For Maldives, it was a difficult start as the heavy defeat leaves them at the bottom of Group B with zero points and a -11 goal difference. With a match still to come, attention now turns to responding strongly and keeping hopes alive in the tournament.
Top goalscorers after India vs Maldives
- Aveka Singh (India): 4 Goals
- Priyangka Naorem (India): 2 Goals
- Karishma Shirvoikar (India): 2 Goals
- Sangita Basfore (India): 1 Goal
- Grace Dangmei (India): 1 Goal
Who is the leading goalscorer in SAFF Women’s Championship 2026 so far?
Aveka Singh currently leads the goalscoring chart with 4 goals to her name.
Who are the next opponent of India in SAFF Women’s Championship?
India will now face Bangladesh in the next group stage game of the tournament.
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Balancing her medical studies with a strong passion for Indian football, Preethi has been a dedicated follower of the sport. Her speciality is covering and discovering stories, talking to players, conducting their interviews, and drafting articles. She particularly covers Hyderabad FC and other stories from the ISL and I-League.