Bala Devi and Ashalata Devi etched their names in history books as India made a powerful start to the SAFF Women's Championships with a 5-2 win over arch-rivals Pakistan in Kathmandu on Thursday.

The spotlight was on skipper Ashalata, who made her 100th appearance for the country, and Bala, aiming to hit her 50th international goal. Bala, India's No. 10, celebrated her glorious moment in the 35th minute when she fired into the top corner after Manisha directed an indirect freekick onto her path.

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Dangmei Grace, who got India off to a great start with a stunning strike in the 5th minute, treated herself to a brace shortly before half-time when she finished from a tight angle, though it appeared to have been turned in by Jamila Khan.

Earlier, Manisha's left foot had made it 2-0 for India, with Bala getting the assist. Pakistan managed to pull one back from the penalty spot to go into the break trailing 1-4. Pakistan halved the deficit when Kayla Siddiqui capitalised on a loose ball two minutes into the restart, but Santosh Kashyap's India remained in control of the match.

Jyoti, who replaced Bala close to the hour mark, kept troubling Pakistani defence and was rewarded in the 77th minute with a thumping header of a Dalima corner. India will take on reigning champions Bangladesh in their second match on October 23. Kannur native Priya P V is the assistant coach of the Indian team.

Result: Pakistan 2 (Suha Hirani 46, Kayla Siddiqi 47) lost to India 5 (Dangmei Grace 4, 42, Manisha 16, Bala Devi 35, Jyoti 77)

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