West Bengal clinched the Dr. Talimeren Ao Junior Girls’ National Football Championship 2026-27, defeating 12-time champions Manipur 3-2 on penalties after the final ended 1-1 in regulation time at the RDT Stadium in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, on Friday.
The triumph marked only the second title for West Bengal in the history of the tournament. Their previous success came in the 2011-12 edition. West Bengal had also finished runners-up in 2003-04 and 2025-26, losing to Manipur on both occasions.
West Bengal started the final strongly, with Diya Biswas putting her team ahead in the 14’. Manipur fought back after the break, with Narmada Devi Mayengbam finding the equaliser in the 50’.
With neither side able to find a winning goal during regulation time, the championship was decided through a penalty shoot-out. Moumita Majhi, Pallabi Barman and Sudipta Mandal converted their penalties for West Bengal, while Mangaleibi Irom and Agunwangliu Khengtamei scored for Manipur.
West Bengal goalkeeper and captain Annyasha Neogi emerged as the key figure in the shoot-out, helping her side secure a 3-2 victory on penalties and lift the national championship.
The victory also provided redemption for West Bengal after their heavy 0-9 defeat against Manipur in last year’s final, which was also played at the RDT Stadium.
Semi-final
West Bengal booked their place in the final after defeating Tamil Nadu 3-1 in the semi-final.
Swarna Chettri opened the scoring for West Bengal in the 49’ before Malita Munda added two more goals in the 58’ and 68’. Tamil Nadu pulled one back through Dharshini in the 22’.
Malita Munda was named Player of the Match for her impressive performance.
Group Stage
West Bengal were placed in Group B alongside Maharashtra, Odisha and Rajasthan.
In their opening match, West Bengal registered a convincing 4-1 victory over Maharashtra in Anantapur.
Kusum Orang opened the scoring in the 2’, but Maharashtra responded immediately through Harshita Vibhash Singh in the 3’. West Bengal regained control through Sangita Paul in the 73’, while Diya Biswas completed the scoring with goals in the 46’ and 78’.
Diya Biswas was adjudged Player of the Match.
West Bengal continued their winning run with a 3-1 victory over Odisha in their second Group B encounter.
Shreyashree Bhakat gave West Bengal the lead in the 38’, before Kusum Orang doubled the advantage in the 50’. Odisha reduced the deficit through Niruta Baraghare in the 59’, but Diya Biswas restored West Bengal’s two-goal cushion just a minute later in the 60’.
In their final group match, West Bengal edged past Rajasthan 1-0, with Diya Biswas scoring the decisive goal in the 40’.
West Bengal completed the Group B campaign with a perfect record of three wins from three matches, before continuing their impressive run through the knockout stages and ultimately securing the national title.
With the championship victory, West Bengal added another chapter to their history in the Dr. Talimeren Ao Junior Girls’ National Football Championship, completing their campaign with an unbeaten record and reclaiming the title after 14 years.
Picture Courtesy: AIFF Media
