<i>Nepal run rampage</i>

Nepal thrashed Maldives 6-0 in the opening match of the SAFF Women's Football Championship at the Cox's Bazar Zilla Stadium yesterday. Nepal striker Anu Lama bagged a hattrick while fellow striker and captain Jamuna Gurang scored twice as the SA Games runners-ups ended as comfortable winners in the Group B encounter.
The margin of victory could have been even greater had the strikers not wasted a couple of sitters towards the end, but even then it was a resounding win for the Himalayan Kingdom who have announced their favourites status in the opening match.
Hosts Bangladesh will start their campaign today against Sri Lanka at the Cox's Bazar Zilla Stadium while pre-tournament favourites India will take on minnows Bhutan in an earlier Group A encounter at the same venue.
Bangladesh's head coach Golam Rabbani Choton said that reaching the semifinal is the first target for the team.
“Our first target is the semifinals. If we can make it, then we will try for the final,” said the Bangladesh coach.
Team captain Trishna Chakma though has bigger goals in sight:
“Most of the players in the side played in the last SA Games, where we won bronze. This time we would like to improve on that.”
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka last met in the SA Games earlier this year where Bangladesh won 2-0.