India, July 15 -- If there's hope for Indian football, the senior women's team has already shown why. Last month, the Blue Tigresses beat defending champions Bangladesh 3-1 in Goa to win the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Women's Championship; their sixth title and first in seven years. They went unbeaten, scoring 18 goals and conceding just once. "I cried after that final whistle not because we won but because seven years is a long time to be told you're not good enough," shares Sanfida Nongrum, who scored in both the semi-final and the final, adding, "We carried that sentiment (that we can't make it) for so long. But that night, all emotions came out as we held the trophy." Lynda Kom Serto, whose 82nd-minute goal sealed the triumph, adds, "Our win proves that we have the grit to shine when the chips are down. That's what should give the country faith in us." For Dangmei Grace, India's most experienced player with 95 caps since her 2013 debut, the SAFF title was a fitting farewell. Retiring after the final, she signed off with her third regional crown and a message for the future: "What we need now is more investment at the grassroots. There is talent scattered all over our country. If we back it, you will see how far Indian football can actually go."...