Anurag Thakur Hails Blue Tigresses on Record 6th SAFF Title
Synopsis
BJP MP Anurag Thakur congratulated the Indian Women's Football Team on clinching a record sixth SAFF Women's Championship title, praising their 3-1 final victory over defending champions Bangladesh and calling it an inspiration for young girls across the country.
Key Takeaways
India won the SAFF Women's Championship 2026 , defeating defending champions Bangladesh 3-1 in the final.
This is India's record sixth SAFF Women's Championship title , the most by any nation in the tournament's history.
The victory ends a seven-year gap since India's previous SAFF Women's title in 2019 .
BJP MP and former sports minister Anurag Thakur praised the Blue Tigresses for their energy, determination, and teamwork throughout the tournament.
The Khelo India scheme and increased ministry funding for women's national teams have formed the policy backbone for women's football development in recent years.
The achievement is expected to inspire grassroots participation in women's football ahead of upcoming AFC Women's Asian Cup qualifiers .
BJP MP Anurag Thakur, former Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, on Sunday, June 7, 2026, congratulated the Indian Women's Football Team on winning the SAFF Women's Championship 2026, calling their 3-1 victory over defending champions Bangladesh in the final a moment that made the nation proud.
Context
Thakur, who represents Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh in the Lok Sabha and previously held the sports ministry portfolio, praised the Blue Tigresses for their 'exceptional energy, determination, and teamwork throughout the tournament.' The team's triumph marks India's sixth SAFF Women's Championship title, the most by any nation in the tournament's history, and ends a seven-year wait since their last title in 2019.
The SAFF Women's Championship is a biennial tournament organised by the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF), bringing together women's national sides from across eight South Asian countries. Bangladesh, the defending champions, were the final hurdle the Blue Tigresses overcame to reclaim the trophy.
Policy Backdrop
India's push for women's football development has been shaped in part by the Khelo India scheme, the flagship government programme launched in 2017 to identify and nurture sporting talent at the grassroots level. The scheme was expanded in 2018-19 with dedicated verticals for women's football development and infrastructure investment.
During Thakur's tenure as sports minister (2019-2023), the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports increased targeted funding for women's national teams under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme, part of a broader effort to pair South Asian regional dominance with stronger performances at the Asian Football Confederation level. Successive governments have treated SAFF titles as a foundation for building a competitive pipeline into continental competitions.
Stakeholders and Impact
The victory carries significance beyond the trophy cabinet. Thakur noted that the achievement 'will inspire countless young footballers, especially girls, to take up the sport and pursue excellence.' State football associations and grassroots academies are expected to see renewed interest from young female athletes following the win.
India's women's football programme has historically struggled to translate South Asian dominance into results at the AFC Women's Asian Cup level, making sustained investment in domestic leagues and talent pipelines a continuing priority for administrators. The record sixth title strengthens the case for deeper structural support from both the central government and the All India Football Federation.
What's Next
Attention now turns to the Indian women's team's performance in upcoming AFC Women's Asian Cup qualifiers, where the momentum from a SAFF title will be tested against stronger continental opposition. Any announcements on expanded domestic league investment or new Khelo India verticals targeting women's football infrastructure will be closely watched by stakeholders and fans alike.
For now, the Blue Tigresses' record sixth title and their commanding final victory represent a high-water mark for women's football in the subcontinent — one that political leaders and sports administrators will look to build upon.
Point of View
Lending political visibility to sporting achievements they helped shape through policy. The Blue Tigresses' record sixth SAFF title arrives at a moment when women's football in India is under pressure to demonstrate that South Asian dominance can translate into continental competitiveness — making the win both a celebration and a prompt for harder questions about the next phase of investment. The seven-year gap between titles also underscores the inconsistency that has dogged the programme, and the renewed political attention may accelerate calls for a more structured domestic league. Broader nation-building narratives around women in sport continue to be a bipartisan political currency in India.
NationPress
23 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Did India win the SAFF Women's Championship 2026?
Yes, the Indian Women's Football Team won the SAFF Women's Championship 2026, defeating defending champions Bangladesh 3-1 in the final to claim a record sixth title.
How many SAFF Women's Championship titles has India won?
India has now won a record six SAFF Women's Championship titles, the most by any nation in the tournament's history.
When did India last win the SAFF Women's Championship before 2026?
India's previous SAFF Women's Championship title came in 2019, making the 2026 win their first in seven years.
What is the SAFF Women's Championship?
The SAFF Women's Championship is a biennial women's football tournament organised by the South Asian Football Federation, contested by national sides from eight South Asian countries.
What did Anurag Thakur say about the Indian Women's Football Team?
BJP MP Anurag Thakur congratulated the Blue Tigresses on their SAFF title, praising their 'exceptional energy, determination, and teamwork' and saying the achievement would inspire young girls to take up football.
