India claims 9th SAFF Championship title with penalty shootout against Kuwait

New Delhi : In a thrilling display of skill and determination, the host nation India secured their ninth SAFF Championships title after defeating Kuwait in a tense penalty shootout. The summit clash took place on Tuesday and ended with a scoreline of 1-1 after 120 minutes of play.

The deadlock persisted as both teams held their ground throughout five rounds of penalty kicks, resulting in a 4-4 tie. To determine the winner, the sudden death rule was implemented. It was Mahesh Naorem who successfully converted his penalty kick for India, while their goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu made a heroic save, denying Khaled Hajiah's shot and sealing the victory for the home side.

The regulation time witnessed an intense battle between the two teams. Kuwait struck first, with Shabaib Al Khaldi finding the back of the net in the 14th minute. However, India's Lallianzuala Chhangte responded with an equalizing goal in the 39th minute, setting the stage for an enthralling encounter.

It is noteworthy that India and Kuwait had previously faced each other in the group stage, where they played out a 1-1 draw. The summit clash provided an opportunity for both teams to settle the score, with India emerging triumphant in their quest for the SAFF Championships title.