Sri Lanka vs Nepal LIVE, AFC Women's Asian Cup qualifiers updates: Score, Sabitra Bhandari in action, Kick-off at 6:15 NPT
Hello and welcome to Sportstar's live coverage of the AFC Women's Asian Cup qualifiers between Sri Lanka and Nepal at the Bunyodkor Stadium in Tashkent.
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The Hindu
10 hours ago
- The Hindu
Off-side: Indian football, A sport in freefall; a love that won't let go
The first time I watched live football in a stadium was a Calcutta Super Division League match between East Bengal and George Telegraph in the early 90s at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan. The stadium, with a capacity of around 10,000, had recently materialised in our corner of eastern Kolkata like a concrete spaceship. Our neighbourhood was mostly made up of people who had crossed the border after Partition — migrants from East Bengal, who carried complicated histories, relentless optimism, and an almost irrational devotion to a football club that bore the name of the home they had left behind. The fact that East Bengal was playing practically in our backyard had sent the whole locality into a frenzy. Everyone was eager to see a young, gravity-defying Bhaichung Bhutia, who was already a teenage heartthrob. 🚨 NEW SPORTSTAR EDITION: FOCUS #IndianFootball 🚨 In the upcoming magazine edition, Sportstar presents a 23-page deep dive on the sorry state of affairs in the Indian football ecosystem. ☠️ How the ISL went from promise to peril ⚽️ I-League's irrelevance - exploring why it's… — Sportstar (@sportstarweb) July 3, 2025 Tickets were sold for Rs. 10 at the local market, and my father's favourite vegetable vendor lined up at dawn to secure them for his and our shared love for East Bengal. On match day, the concrete ramparts were a sea of red-and-gold, and Bhutia didn't disappoint. He scored an acrobatic goal, the only goal of the game. The stadium shook with joy, and there was an overwhelming sense of belonging that I had never felt before in my brief decade spent on this planet. Sport does that to you. It invents an emotional socialism where the ecstasy of victory is shared equally, and so is the sorrow when things fall apart. It's probably the only thing outside your own life that can make or break your heart. But if falling in love with sports is easy, staying in love with Indian football is not. That beautiful, defiant sense of belonging I had felt as a child now lives under the constant shadow of decay. Every passing year feels like a slow, silent funeral. There's no villain, no great betrayal, but a list of endless tiny cuts. Every season arrives with new murmurs: that this league won't survive, that this club can't pay salaries. The financial model of Indian football is unfortunately broken, with most clubs running on credit and crossed fingers. Since 2000, 19 teams have disappeared across three divisions. The federation's commercial arm, Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), signed a broadcast deal in 2023 with Viacom18 — owned by the same parent company — for Rs. 550 crore over two years. Each ISL match is worth Rs. 1.68 crore (2024-25 season), a stark contrast to the Rs. 104 crore the IPL earns as broadcast revenue from every game. Broadcast revenue — supposedly the financial lifeblood of modern sport — is barely trickling in. And most clubs and the federation invest very little in youth systems, infrastructure, or anything that might help the sport grow. The AIFF cut its competition budget by Rs. 20 crore, while its scouting and grassroots programme saw a reduction of 69 per cent in 2024-25. Meanwhile, FSDL and the broadcasters point to falling viewership — 429 million in season one to 81 million by 2023. But no one knows which came first: the falling interest or the falling quality. It's a chicken-and-egg situation with no budget for either. A chaotic football calendar, often drawn or changed last minute, and an endemic age-fraud problem add to the woes dragging Indian football down. The national team, meanwhile, continues to be in freefall. It has not won a competitive game since November 2023. And yet the fans cling to a sport that gives them less and less to hold on to. But they don't scream as much anymore. They simply endure.
India Gazette
19 hours ago
- India Gazette
India a step away from Women's Asian Cup qualification after blanking Iraq
Chiang Mai [Thailand], July 2 (ANI): The Indian women's football team produced another commanding performance in the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers, dismantling Iraq 5-0 at the 700th Anniversary of Chiang Mai Stadium on Wednesday. India led 2-0 at half-time. First-half goals from Sangita Basfore and Manisha set the tone before a dominant second half saw Karthika Angamuthu, Phanjoubam Nirmala Devi, and Nongmaithem Ratanbala Devi add to the scoreline, taking India's goal tally to an impressive 22 from three games, all without conceding a single goal, as per a press release from All India Football Federation (AIFF). With this result, the Blue Tigresses remain unbeaten, having now claimed three wins in as many matches. India is currently atop Group B with nine points and a goal difference of +22. With Thailand, currently second in the group, set to face Mongolia later in the day, the stage is perfectly set for a high-stakes showdown between India and Thailand on July 5. With only the group winner progressing, it will be a winner-takes-all affair. On Wednesday, India, coming off thumping wins against Mongolia (13-0) and Timor-Leste (4-0), were high on confidence and wasted no time in asserting their authority. Crispin Chettri's side played with fluency and control, showcasing impressive cohesion across all areas of the pitch. From the opening whistle, India seized control of possession and used the full width of the pitch to stretch the Iraqi defence. Their midfielders dictated the tempo with intelligent passing and quick transitions. India almost took the lead in the ninth minute through a corner, which was flicked goalward but superbly saved by Iraq goalkeeper Khalat Alzebari. However, the pressure told just five minutes later. Sanju delivered a curling corner from the left, and Alzebari came off her line but failed to punch clear. The ball fell kindly for Sangita, who made no mistake with her header to open the scoring. India continued to carve open opportunities. In the 35th minute, Manisha let fly from distance and saw her thunderous strike rattle the crossbar. But just before the break, the forward would not be denied. In the 44th minute, she received the ball at the top of the box, took a touch, and sent a low shot goalwards. What seemed a tame effort somehow trickled past the Iraqi defence and under Alzebari, who was caught flat-footed. Trailing 2-0 at the break, Iraq made a change between the sticks, replacing Alzebari with Faeza Mahmood. But the momentum remained firmly with India. Barely three minutes into the second half, Karthika Angamuthu produced the moment of the match. Spotting the substitute goalkeeper off her line, she unleashed a stunning lobbed strike from over 25 yards that dipped perfectly into the net, much to the delight of her teammates. India continued their relentless press, with wave after wave of attack keeping Iraq pinned back in their own half. The fourth goal arrived in the 68th minute through Nirmala Devi, who collected a pass in midfield, took a few steps forward, and fired a long-range effort into the back of the net, showcasing yet again India's comfort and confidence in shooting from distance. The final goal of the afternoon came in the 80th minute. Substitute Ratanbala Devi made a darting run into the box and had her initial shot parried by Mahmood. But she reacted quickly, pouncing on the rebound to slot home and seal India's third straight victory of the campaign. (ANI)
India Today
a day ago
- India Today
India edge closer to Women's Asia Cup qualification with Iraq thrashing
The Indian women's team produced another commanding performance during their 5-0 win over Iraq to edge closer to AFC Women's Asian Cup qualification on Wednesday, July 2. First-half goals from Sangita Basfore and Manisha got India in control before a sensational second half saw Karthika Angamuthu, Phanjoubam Nirmala Devi, and Nongmaithem Ratanbala Devi add to the scoreline to give the Blue Tigresses another big win. advertisementWith this, India has now scored 22 goals from three games, while conceding none as they remained unbeaten in the group. India came into the contest against Iraq high on confidence after thumping Mongolia 13-0 and Timor-Leste 4-0. They quickly asserted their dominance in the game as they used the flanks well while the midfielders dictated the tempo of the contest. India almost took the lead in the ninth minute when a well-worked corner saw Iraq goalkeeper Khalat Alzebari being called into action. However, the Indian pressure remained, and they were rewarded with a goal just five minutes later as Sanju delivered a fine corner which the Iraq goalkeeper failed to clear. It fell to Sangita, who produced a great header to open the scoring. India continued to create more chances and in the 35th minute, Manisha saw her thunderous long-range effort rattle the crossbar. However, she doubled the lead in the 44th minute as her tame shot went through the defence and caught the goalkeeper off guard. advertisementTrailing at half-time, Iraq made a change in goal, with Alzebari replaced by Faeza Mahmood. But the momentum remained with the Indian team as they made it 3-0, thanks to a sensational effort from Karthika Angamuthu. Her 25-yard shot caught the goalkeeper off the line and dipped into the net. Despite the big lead, India kept Iraq pinned in their own half and the fourth goal came in the 68th minute. Nirmala Devi produced another long-range effort after collecting the ball in midfield. The final goal of the match came in the 80th minute when substitute Ratanbala Devi made a darting run into the box and her first effort was initially saved. But she was smart enough to capitalise on the rebound and slot it into the net. India will face Thailand in their final game, which could be a direct knockout match as the winner of the group will get qualification. The match will take place on Saturday, July 5. - Ends
