Yupia, May 10 -- India kicked off their South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) U19 Championship title defence in spectacular fashion with a commanding 8-0 victory against Sri Lanka in their Group B opener at the Golden Jubilee Stadium.

On Friday, the dominant display was capped by a superb hat-trick from Danny Meitei Laishram (26', 31', 50') -- the tournament's first -- while Prashan Jajo (17', 62') bagged a brace in a comprehensive all-round performance. Md Arbash (40'), Omang Dodum (48'), and captain Singamayum Shami (81') scored one each, as per a press release from the All India Football Federation (AIFF).

The hosts, cheered on by a raucous home crowd in the first-ever international football tournament in Arunachal Pradesh, showed t...