Sports desk //

Once again the girls of Bangladesh climbed to the top of the Himalayas. Sabina Khatun, Monika Chakma, Rituparna Chakmara wrote their names in golden letters in the pages of history by becoming unbeaten champions for the second time in a row in the women’s clean championship. Bangladesh basked in the glory of winning the unforgettable title after defeating the hosts Nepal 2-1 in the final of the seventh Women’s SAFF on Wednesday night. Two ‘Chakma’ attacking midfielder Monika Chakma and forward Rituparna Chakma scored two goals for the Bengal Tigers at the Dasaratha Rangshala Stadium in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. Forward Amisha Karki scored the goal for Nepal.
Before this, Bangladesh became the champion by defeating this Nepal 3-1 in the previous SAFF final on September 19, 2022. Sebar Bengal girls get their first taste of victory. This time, the indomitable girls of Bengal have made a great feat of retaining the title by defeating the same opponent. As Bangladesh champions, the gold girls are being showered with praise from all sides. Bengal Tigresses were congratulated by Chief Advisor, Sports Advisor, BAUF President and many others. The first half was goalless in a highly contested final.

Bangladesh took the lead in 52 minutes after the break. Monika Chakma broke through Nepal’s defense in a great attack and gave Bangladesh a lead. Bangladesh’s retention of the title is highlighted by this goal. But Bangladesh could not hold the goal for long. Nepal equalized in 55 minutes. Nepali forward Ameesha Karki scored after a wonderful through pass by Preeti Rai. In the 81st minute of the match, Bangladesh went ahead with a great attack by Rituparna Chakma. Rituparna beat the Nepali goalkeeper with a wonderful shot from the left. In the end, the girls of Bengal left the field holding the title with this goal.
The local football crowd thronged the Rangshala gallery to watch the final. An hour and a half before the start of the final, Kathmandu’s 15,000 capacity gallery was almost full. They chanted ‘Nepal’, ‘Nepal’ slogans. Nepal flag in many hands. A festive atmosphere is created in the stadium. But in the end, Bangladesh laughed at the title by crushing the hosts’ celebrations.
In 2022, the indomitable girls of Bengal made the feat of winning the women’s SAF title for the first time. As a result, Bangladesh has a clear superiority in any format in men’s or women’s football after 2003. The men’s team last won the South Asian Football Championship in 2003. In 2022, the red-green country got the taste of winning the title in South Asian football after 19 years by holding the hands of the golden girls of Bengal. Not only that, in 1999, Bangladesh men’s football team became the best in South Asia for the first time in Nepal.

After a long 23 years, it was in Nepal that the girls were crowned the best in South Asia. Bangladesh girls have won the SAFF title by maintaining the continuity of success. Along with that, they took the footballer of the country to a unique height. Bengal tigresses have also raised the flag of the country abroad.
After the success in 2022, the sports people said that the biggest reception and festive event in the sports history of Bangladesh was to welcome the girls. The cricket team that won the ICC Trophy in 1997 and the U-19 World Cup winning team in 2020 were also felicitated. But the reception and celebration of the girls’ clean win surpassed anything in the past. Sabina-Sanjida-Maria-Swapnara got the biggest reception and the most love in the history of sports in Bangladesh. Let’s see if Sabina gets such a reception this time.