Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Sunday, June 7, 2026, congratulated the Indian women's national football team on winning the SAFF Women's Championship 2026 final, calling the triumph a symbol of the nation's daughters' hard work, confidence, and continuous progress.

Context

Posting in Hindi on X, CM Saini wrote that the team had brought glory to the entire country through 'utkrishtapradarshn, dridh sankalp aur anushasan' (outstanding performance, firm resolve, and discipline). He described the championship as 'not merely a trophy, but a symbol of the hard work, self-confidence, and continuous progress of the daughters of this country.'

The SAFF Women's Championship is the premier regional women's football tournament in South Asia, organised by the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF). It serves as the most consistent competitive platform for the Indian women's side between larger continental fixtures under the Asian Football Confederation.

Policy Backdrop

India has been a dominant force in the SAFF Women's Championship, having won the title in 2019 and 2022, among other editions. The Khelo India programme, launched in 2017, has channelled central government funding into grassroots and elite women's football, providing training camps, infrastructure, and financial support to athletes across states.

Investment in the domestic women's football ecosystem has grown steadily since the mid-2010s, with national team training camps and league structures expanding in parallel with regional tournament success. Haryana has historically produced a significant number of women athletes who represent India at the national level across multiple sports.

Stakeholders and Impact

The victory is significant for women athletes, football associations, and supporters across South Asia. For the All India Football Federation (AIFF), which governs the national team, a SAFF title reinforces the programme's competitive standing ahead of upcoming AFC qualifier fixtures.

Political leaders at both the central and state levels have increasingly aligned public messaging with women's sporting achievements, reflecting a broader trend of associating governance with the advancement of female athletes. CM Saini's post continues this pattern, framing the win within a narrative of national pride and the empowerment of India's daughters.

What's Next

Attention will now shift to the Indian women's team's schedule for forthcoming AFC qualification rounds, where the momentum from regional dominance will be tested against stronger continental opposition. Any state-level announcements from Haryana regarding cash awards or institutional support for female footballers from the state who featured in the squad are also expected to follow such a high-profile win.

The broader question for Indian women's football remains whether consistent SAFF success can translate into deeper runs in Asian-level competitions — a benchmark that administrators, coaches, and fans increasingly regard as the true measure of the programme's growth.