Nepal kicked off their SAFF U-20 Championship campaign in style with a commanding 6-1 victory over Bhutan.

The standout performer of the match was forward Purnima Rai, who netted four goals to power her team to a dominant win.

Rai’s clinical finishing was supported by Senu Pariyar, who contributed two goals to complete the rout. Nepal looked sharp from the start, with quick counter moves, and relentless pressure on the Bhutanese defense.

Speaking in a flash interview after the match, Rai expressed her delight and confidence:

“It was not a planned thing, it just happened on the spot. I’m very happy with my teammates. They gave me the opportunities, and I was confident. I’ll try to score more goals in the coming matches.”

Nepal will next face host nation Bangladesh on July 13, in what promises to be a crucial encounter in the group stage.

Four nations, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan & Sri Lanka are participating in the event. The team with highest points after playing round robin matches will be crowned the champions.