Imphal: Manipur on Sunday lifted the Junior Girls’ National Football Championships Tier 1 title for a record 12th time, routing Bengal 9–0 in a one-sided final.
This year’s championship, held in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, featured some of the brightest young talents from across the country, with 16 state teams competing in the Tier 1 category.
Chingkhamayum Redima Devi (8th, 41st, 65th) and Longjam Nira Chanu (29th, 55th, 59th) powered the win with a hat-trick each, while Yaiphabi Thokchom added a brace (68th, 76th). Mongjam Pusparani Devi (75th) also found the net in the late stages.
Manipur dominated the competition from start to finish, reinforcing their long-standing supremacy in the tournament, which is named after legendary India footballer Dr. Talimeren Ao.
Bengal, hoping for a fairy-tale finish, were comprehensively outplayed in the final by the small yet formidable northeastern side.
The victory completed a remarkable hat-trick of titles for Manipur, who had also claimed the championships in 2023–24 and 2024–25.
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Over the past two weeks, the tournament showcased high-intensity matches and emerging stars, reaffirming its role as a key platform for identifying future prospects for India’s youth and senior women’s teams.
Introduced in 2001, the Junior Girls’ National Football Championship has grown into one of the most competitive age-group events under the All India Football Federation.
