India win SAFF U20 soccer tourney

STRIKER Gurkirat Singh’s four goals which included a hattrick helped India defeat Bangladesh 5-2 in the final of the SAFF U20 Championship at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneshwar, Odisha on Friday (5).

Both teams were locked 1-1 at the interval, and 2-2 after completion of regulation time. Gurkirat scored in the 1st, 60th, 94th and 99th minutes respectively, while Himanshu Jangra scored in the 92nd minute. For Bangladesh, Rajon Howladar and Shahin Mia scored in the 44th and 48th minutes.

Gurkirat Singh was declared the Most Valuable Player of the tournament and also clinched the top scorer’s award, while Som Kumar earned the Golden Gloves Award.