India women's football team coach eyes 5th straight SAFF title

Siliguri: India women's football team coach Sajid Dar on Sunday said his wards will leave no stone unturned in their quest to capture their fifth straight SAFF Women's Championship.

The Indian team will start their campaign against Afghanistan at the Kanchenjunga Stadium here on Tuesday.

"Yes, we're coming as the defending champions but everything starts from zero on December 27. We have to prove our worth to clinch the silverware," Sajid told the media on the eve of the tournament.

The tournament will start on Monday with Nepal taking on Bhutan in the opening match. Sri Lanka are scheduled to meet Maldives later in the day.

Asked about not having Bembem Devi around after such a long time with the iconic Manipuri footballer announcing her retirement earlier this year, Sajid said: "It's not true that Bembem is not with us, she is here to share her experiences with the girls and there are enough opportunities for them to learn from her."

"We're playing our first match in two days and then look forward to the next one -- one match at a time."