Bangladesh emerged victorious in the SAFF U-20 Championship, defeating India 4-3 in a penalty shootout following a goalless draw in the final held at the National Stadium in Male, Maldives on Friday. This victory marked a significant milestone for Bangladesh, as they overcame their previous inability to defeat India in regional youth championship finals in 2019, 2022, and 2025.
The decisive moment came when promising young talent Ronan Sullivan confidently converted an audacious Panenka penalty after his teammate Samuel Raksam had struck the crossbar. This win not only secured the championship title for Bangladesh but also broke their streak of unsuccessful encounters against India in recent years.
