Indian women started in style in their opening match of the SAFF women’s football championship trouncing Pakistan 5-2 in a Group A match at the Dasharath Stadium on Thursday. The five-time champions led 4-1 at half-time. 

India grabbed three points. The match featured skipper Ashalata Devi’s 100th appearance for the Blue Tigresses and at the same time, the match witnessed the 50th international goal of prolific striker Bala Devi, becoming the first Indian woman footballer to do so.

While Grace Dangmei (2), Manisha, Bala Devi, and Jyoti Chauhan scored for India, Suha Hirani and Kayla Marie Siddique found the net for Pakistan.

The two traditional rivals have so far met four times in the international arena and India emerged triumphant on all four occasions.