Panaji, May 25 -- The Indian women's football team began its SAFF Women's Championship 2026 campaign dominantly, thrashing the Maldives 11-0 in their opening Group B match at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Margao, Goa, on Monday.

Aveka Singh starred with four goals (34', 66', 70', 86'), while Priyangka Naorem (11', 17') and Karishma (53', 68') scored braces each. Pyari Xaxa (28'), Dangmei Grace (40'), and Sangita Basfore (60') also got on the scoresheet in the emphatic win, as per Olympics.com.

Ranked 69th in the FIFA women's rankings, India asserted control from the outset against the 167th-ranked Maldives and rarely allowed their opponents a foothold in the contest.

India had the ball in the back of the Maldives net just befo...