Chhattisgarh and Manipur begin with a bang; West Bengal edge Karnataka in U-20 football

Hosts Chhattisgarh and Manipur began the Swami Vivekananda Under-20 men’s National Football Championship 2026 with resounding victories over their respective rivals, while West Bengal eked out a hard-fought win over Karnataka in Narainpur, Chhattisgarh, on Saturday.

Chhattisgarh began their campaign with a bang, scoring five against Dadra & Nagarhaveli and Daman & Diu.

Satish Kumar Wadde scored two in quick succession in the 32nd and 35th minutes, after Subhadip Munda gave them an early lead. Indrajit Roy and Virendra Kumar added two more for the hosts.

Chhattisgarh began their campaign with a bang, scoring five against Dadra & Nagarhaveli and Daman & Diu in the Swami Vivekananda Under-20 men’s National Football Championship 2026 in Narainpur, Chhattisgarh, on Saturday. Pics: AIFF

Manipur down Nagaland 5-1

Manipur were the other side to get a big win on the day, defeating Nagaland 5-1.

Salam Sawmichandra Meitei’s 34th-minute goal was cancelled out five minutes later by Nagaland’s Lunmingou Singsit. However, Manipur came roaring back in the second half, with goals from Thounaojam Robertson Singh, Loktongbam Lamjingba Singh, Md Shuaib, and Khundongbam Carlos Singh.

Chhattisgarh and Manipur, occupy the top two spots in Group B, respectively, with these results, Nagaland and Dadra & Nagarhaveli and Daman & Diu are third and fourth, respectively.

West Bengal top Group E

West Bengal began their campaign in the Under-20 NFC with a narrow victory against Karnataka, after a late own goal earned them the three points. Tanbir Dey had given them the lead in the 39th minute, before Nirupam Gowda equalised in the second half. However, and 84th minute own goal by Dhruv C handed Bengal the three points.

West Bengal, with this result, are at the top of Group E with three points.

Results: Karnataka 1 (Nirupam Gowda H 65’) lost to West Bengal 2 (Tanbir Dey 39’, Dhruv C 84’ og).

Nagaland 1 (Lunmingou Singsit 39’) lost to Manipur 5 (Salam Sawmichandra Meitei 34’, Thounaojam Robertson Singh 47’, Loktongbam Lamjingba Singh 52’, Md Shuaib 64’, Khundongbam Carlos Singh 79’).

Chhattisgarh 5 (Subhadip Munda 7’, Satish Kumar Wadde 32’, 35’, Indrajit Roy 38’, Virendra Kumar 44’) beat Dadra & Nagarhaveli and Daman & Diu 0.