Sports Desk:

The SAFF U-20 Women’s Championship is set to kick off in Dhaka on 11 July, with hosts Bangladesh facing Sri Lanka in the opening match at the Bashundhara Kings Arena. However, the tournament has taken a twist, as India have withdrawn at the last moment.

According to SAFF sources, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) officially informed the South Asian Football Federation of their withdrawal. No reason was cited for the decision.

With India pulling out, the tournament will now feature only four teams—Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan. As a result, the format has been changed to a double round-robin league. Each team will play the other teams twice, totaling six matches per side. The team with the highest points at the end of the round will be crowned champions.

Bangladesh, the defending champions, now see their chances of retaining the title increase significantly in the absence of their toughest rival, India.

The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) had initially planned to host the tournament at the Bangabandhu National Stadium, but ongoing renovations to the pitch have shifted the venue to the Bashundhara Kings Arena.

Mahfuza Akter Kiron, head of BFF’s women’s wing, confirmed the venue change. “The SAFF U-20 Women’s Championship will take place at the Kings Arena. Although international matches were held at the National Stadium recently, further work is being done on the grass. Therefore, we’ve opted for Kings Arena,” she said.