Shillong, October 21 : Football fervour gripped the hill city once again as international women’s football made a passionate return to Shillong after nearly a decade. In a high-octane opener of the Women’s Tri-Nation Tournament at the iconic Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, IR Iran registered a thrilling 2-0 victory over the ‘Blue Tigresses’, sending the local crowd into a wave of emotions.
Prestone Tynsong, Deputy Chief Minister and Hamletson Dohling, President, Meghalaya Football Association (MFA), greeted the players before the start of the highly anticipated clash.
The event marked another proud moment in Meghalaya’s sporting journey. With recent upgrades to the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, and constantly evolving sports infrastructure in the state, Shillong has emerged as one of India’s most preferred hosts for major football events. Earlier this year, the State successfully welcomed the Indian men’s team for the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, further cementing its growing reputation on the national football map.
Reflecting on the spirit of Shillong’s football culture, Indian National Team midfielder Sangita Basfore shared her experience of playing in the city. She said, “I have been to Shillong before for football, and every time we play here, the support is overwhelming. Whenever there is a match in Shillong, huge crowds gather to cheer for our team and for women’s football at large.”
The seamless organisation of the international fixture reflected the strong collaboration between the All-India Football Federation (AIFF) and the Meghalaya Football Association, backed by the State Government’s continued focus on strengthening sports infrastructure and opportunities for youth. Notably, Meghalaya is hosting the National Games in 2027, and the growth of Sports Infrastructure across the State is not only making it ready to host the same but also ensuring world-class facilities for youth of the region.
It was huge moment for women’s football in Meghalaya as the State female football players Bonifilia Shullai and Alisha Lyngdoh were felicitated by Prestone Tynsong, Deputy Chief Minister, in presence of Richard Yanthan, IAS, Joint Secretary, Department of Sports and Youth Affairs, D.D. Shira, MCS, Director, Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs, Hamletson Dohling, President of Meghalaya Football Association, Sunesh Syiem, General Secretary, Meghalaya Football Association.
Match Report: The opening minutes were intense, with Iran finding space to deliver a few crosses within the first 10 minutes. The defensive line for Iran was resolute to Indian forwards Pyari Xaxa and Lynda Kom maintaining tight lines and ensure a clean sheet at the half-time. The second half saw some great energy with Sorokhaibam Chanu almost managing a cross. However, it was Iran’s number 20, Sara Didar who broke the deadlock, scoring with a stellar overhead acrobatic kick at the 63’ min. Didar followed up doubling Iran’s scoreline to 2-0 within just 10 minutes, scoring a commanding lead for the visitors and sealing the win.
