Nepal Defeats India in SAFF Semifinal Shootout

In a chaotic semi-final at the SAFF Women’s Championship, Nepal defeated India 4-2 in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw in regulation time, with the match marred by lengthy stoppages and disputes over officiating. India initially took the lead with a goal from Sangita Basfore in the 62nd minute, but confusion erupted when Nepal scored an equalizer that was disallowed by the referee. This led to a protest from the Nepali side, resulting in a stoppage of over an hour, which severely disrupted India's rhythm. Upon resuming, Nepal equalized through Sabitra Bhandari, sending the match into penalties. In the shootout, Nepal converted all four attempts while India missed two, ending their tournament run. Nepal will face Bangladesh in the final, following Bangladesh's earlier victory over Bhutan.