Sabitra “Samba” Bhandari Makes History with 50 International Goals

Sabitra Bhandari, fondly known as Samba and a prominent forward of the Nepali women’s football team, has etched her name in the annals of Nepali football history by completing her 50th international goal. The milestone was achieved during the WAFF Women’s Championship held in Saudi Arabia.

On Thursday, in a thrilling match against Iran, Bhandari exhibited her prowess by netting an astounding five goals, bringing her total tally to 50 international goals. This monumental achievement comes hot on the heels of her stellar performance in the same championship, where Nepal secured a victory over Iran with a scoreline of 4-1, with Bhandari contributing another crucial goal to the team’s triumph.

Earning the moniker of ‘Goal Machine,’ Bhandari’s journey in international football began in 2014 during the SAFF Women’s Championship, where she marked her debut with a goal against Bhutan. Since then, her goal-scoring prowess has transcended various tournaments, including the South Asian Games, Olympic qualifiers, Hero Women’s World Cup, Nadezda Gold Cup, and numerous international friendlies.

Bhandari’s proficiency on the field is exemplified by her diverse goal-scoring record. Notably, she has scored 19 goals across four South Asian Championships, five goals in two South Asian Games, and four goals in Olympic qualifiers. Her exceptional performance was also evident during the Hero Gold Cup in India, where she secured four goals, and the Nadezda Gold Cup in Kyrgyzstan, where she notched an impressive seven goals.

Among her achievements, Bhandari holds the distinction of scoring the most goals against Bhutan, totaling nine, followed by seven goals against Maldives. The recent hat trick against Iran marked her fifth hat trick in her international career, with previous hat tricks against Maldives, Bhutan, and Kyrgyzstan.

One of the standout moments in her career includes a double hat trick during the SAFF Women’s Championship in India in 2016, where she dominated the field with five goals. Additionally, her prowess was on full display during the Nadezda Gold Cup in 2019, where she secured another hat trick against Kyrgyzstan, and during the 13th South Asian Games in Pokhara the same year, where she dazzled with a hat trick against Maldives.

Bhandari’s journey to 50 international goals serves as an inspiration not only to aspiring footballers in Nepal but also as a testament to her dedication, skill, and relentless pursuit of excellence on the field.