Nine players from Manipur, who were part of the Indian women’s football team that clinched the 6th SAFF Women’s Championship, met Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh to discuss the achievements of the state’s footballers at national and international levels. The players emphasized the importance of enhancing women’s football in Manipur during the meeting.
The Indian women’s football team emerged victorious in the 6th SAFF Women’s Championship by defeating defending champions Bangladesh 3-1 in the final held at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Margao, Goa, on June 6. This win marked India’s sixth SAFF Women’s Championship title, setting a new record for the country.
During the interaction with the Chief Minister, the players highlighted that all nine Manipuri players were part of the title-winning squad at the SAFF Championship. Additionally, some of these players also represented India in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Australia, marking India’s qualification for the continental tournament after 23 years.
The Manipuri players informed the Chief Minister that four of them had also participated in the 2023 Asian Games in China. They urged the Chief Minister to continue supporting women’s football in Manipur and ensure that the number of Manipuri players in the national team does not decrease in the future. The players suggested organizing annual women’s football tournaments to boost grassroots development and provide more opportunities for young players to excel.
Chief Minister Singh commended the players for their remarkable achievements that brought pride to the nation. He reiterated the state government’s dedication to promoting sports and offering increased opportunities for budding footballers, especially women, through sustained backing for grassroots development and sports infrastructure enhancement. Singh, a lifelong Taekwondo practitioner, also received requests from the players to enhance career advancement and promotional avenues for sportspersons working in state government departments.
