Lalita boypai

All India Football Federation:  Powered by a Sulanjana Raul hat-trick, India wrapped up its AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers campaign with a resounding 3-0 win over the Islamic Republic of Iran at the Buriram City Stadium on Saturday.

Hailing from District East Midnapore, the West Bengalian girl had a huge day on Saturday as her three goals gave India a victory and three points to round out the season. Sulanjana, though, made it apparent she was not strolling in the sunshine shortly after the game was finished.

India’s campaign so far has been defined by two heavy losses to oppositions far ahead in their development cycle and ranked higher than the Young Tigresses. What the scorelines did not reflect, though, was the psychological brunt of those defeats.