Akhil Rawat
AIFF Media Team
THIMPHU, BHUTAN: While Wednesday's 5-0 win over Bhutan may have been a routine high-scoring display from India in the SAFF U17 Women's Championship, there were some deeper emotional elements involved in the game.
Young Tigresses' captain Julan Nongmaithem was named the MVP of the match after a top-drawn finish from outside the box. The 14-year-old dedicated the award, her first in an international tournament, to her late father, who passed away last year.
"Papa, this is for you, and I miss you so much," she said, pointing to the sky, while talking to AIFF Media after the match.
On the other hand, Abhista Basnett, who assisted Julan's goal, had a special night as her parents were in attendance at the Changlimithang Stadium after making a 350-kilometre road trip from their home in Pakyong, Sikkim.
"It was the first time my mom and dad watched me play for India. It was a proud moment, and I was motivated to prove to my parents that I can do this, so there was no pressure at all," said Abhista.
The 14-year-old has been in superb form in Bhutan, scoring four goals and assisting three in the four games so far. The lanky player has shown her versatility by playing in midfield and central defence, and does not mind playing anywhere on the pitch as long as the coaches' demands are met.
"As a player, I should be ready to play in any position because wherever my team needs me, I have to be there. The coaches have trusted me, giving me responsibility in attack, defence, set pieces and in distribution when I play midfield. Whatever they say, I listen carefully. If I make a mistake and they tell me, I accept that," said Abhista.
Abhista's parents, especially her father, are, in a way, also her coaches.
"My parents said I played well, and they were really happy to see me performing at the international level. My father always reviews my performance after matches and comments on it. He would be on video call, put on the game and tell me things like 'don't hold the ball inside the box in this move, don't try to fake twice, you could've put the team in danger' or 'you did this well, you need to improve in that'. He becomes a coach off the field, basically.
"My mother is my emotional support. She doesn't give me technical comments but always cheers me up and boosts my morale," said Abhista.
While Abhista's tall stature makes her a vital component of India's set pieces, it all starts with Shveta Rani's left-footed deliveries. She had two assists from corners in the first three games, and on Wednesday, finally opened her goalscoring account for the tournament. It was her third international goal after two strikes in the SAFF U16 Women's Championship last year.
"I had been trying earlier in the tournament, too, but since this was my first goal, it's given me more motivation for the matches ahead. I'm pleased to score, but even when I don't score myself, I always try to help the team by providing assists and supporting them in defence.
"We're quite strong on set pieces, and even if the match gets tough, we always have the chance to score with the dead ball. I always try to deliver the best possible corner so that it lands directly for my teammates, making it easier for them to put it into the net," said the 16-year-old from Alakhpura, Haryana.
Between the sticks, goalkeeper Munni has had a flawless tournament with four clean sheets. While the 15-year-old hasn't had much to do in the last two games against Bhutan, she did make a few good saves against Nepal and Bangladesh to keep her perfect record intact.
"We have been doing well. Keeping four clean sheets so far isn't just my success but also of the entire team, and especially the backline. We all support each other throughout 90 minutes. Our mindset hasn't just been to win, but to not concede any goals, too. We want to do the same in the next two games," said the Rajasthani.
Munni played two matches, including the final, in last year's SAFF U16, where India lost to Bangladesh on penalties. Now more mature and confident, she hopes to convert the silver into gold in Bhutan.
"That was my first time playing outside India in an international tournament. Now I have more knowledge and confidence. We have worked hard over the last year, and this time we want to win the trophy. My aim is to win the Best Goalkeeper Award," Munni added.
India will play Nepal in their penultimate match of the SAFF U17 Women's Championship 2025 on Friday, August 29, 2025, at the Changlimithang Stadium at 17:30 IST. The match will be streamed live on the Sportzworkz YouTube channel.
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