India beat Bhutan 3-0 in their opening encounter of SAFF U-17 Championship

In football, defending champion India started their SAFF U-17 Championship campaign with a 3-0 victory over Bhutan in Colombo, Sri Lanka yesterday.

Indian striker Thanglalsoun Gangte scored two first-half goals to put India in a commanding position, before captain Vanlalpeka Guite added a third after the restart, to complete the victory. India U17 boys will next play Nepal on Friday.

In another match, Bangladesh U-17 team also got off to a flying start as they thrashed hosts Sri Lanka 5-1 in their opening Group A match in Colombo. Bangladesh's



Murshed Ali scored two goals in the match while one goal scored each by Rubel Sheikh, Sirajul Islam and Mohammad Nazim Uddin. Yasir Sarfraz scored the consolation goal for Sri Lanka.

The final match of the seventh edition of the championship will be played on 14th of this month.

Indian team have been clubbed in Group B alongside Bhutan and Nepal while Bangladesh have been placed in Group A along with Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

India won the tournament three times - 2013, 2017 and 2019.