At the Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon, a footballer, kneeling, head in hands and with tears streaming down her face, melded into the grass.
That figure was none other than Ritu Porna Chakma, whose dynamic brace in a win against Myanmar on Wednesday helped the Bangladesh women's football team secure a spot in the Asian Cup for the first time in history.
It was the team's second consecutive win and saw them claim the honour of reaching the Asian Cup proper as champions of Group C.
Those tears were undeniably borne of joy, but perhaps not without a hint of regret.
Exactly two years ago, Bangladesh's women were gearing up to play on this very ground with the hopes of qualifying for the Olympics.
However, in a startling turn of events, the team was forced to pull out of the tournament, with then Bangladesh Football Federation president Kazi Salahuddin stating that the body simply could not afford the trip.
Now, not only have they made history by qualifying for the Asia Cup, but through that they also have a chance to right the wrongs of the past as making the quarterfinals would also provide the opportunity to participate in the 2028 Olympic football tournament.
Even more milestones are suddenly within grasp, with the Asia Cup also set to serve as the first stage of Asian qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup.
From imperfection to perfection
In the last week of January in 2010, the gallery at the Bangabandhu National Stadium was sparsely populated as the Bangladesh women's football team prepared to play their first ever international game. It was a match against Nepal, part of the 2010 South Asian Games.
Women's football was an unknown phenomenon. The audience was more interested in men's football, although they had consistently failed to live up to a rich legacy.
But that day, although the team's display was marked by a lack of experience, hesitant body language and misunderstandings, some teenagers turned the pages of history.
Something began that day which would pave the way for future generations.
Moreover, despite tasting defeat in the first match, the girls did not lose confidence. Rather, that defeat planted the seed of optimism, which slowly bloomed into a fighting force.
This spirit, the will to fight, shone through outside the field as well.
They had to commit to training camps for large swathes of the year, many of them moving away from their families. They did not even have the promise of a good pair of boots, let alone adequate nutrition.
Even their achievements were limited.
But football remained their spirit, identity and language.
Bangladesh had not won a single match despite playing in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers twice before. But this time, the results of that "imperfect" experience and long preparation paid off.
A dream deferred: The 2023 Olympic qualifiers cancellation
In 2023, the Bangladesh women's team were ready to fly to Myanmar and participate in the Olympic qualifiers. Practice was almost over, the players were also mentally prepared.
But just six days before the start of the tournament, news emerged that the trip had been cancelled.
The cause? A lack of funds. The Bangladesh Football Federation said it simply did not have the resources to send the team. It would not fit within their budget.
Sports fans were shocked to hear this news. The women's team that had conquered South Asia were barred from going to international games.
After that, there was a lot of criticism, but the players did not vent their frustration. They continued to practice, waiting for a new opportunity.
Exactly two years later, the team returned to Myanmar again, not for the Olympics, but to play the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers.
This time, they had no intention to return empty-handed.
Behind this success of the Bangladesh women's football team is the accumulated hard work, dedication and sacrifice over the years.
Most of these girls have no reliable source of income outside of football. Welcoming venues remain absent. Yet, they have persevered. Football is not just a game for them, it is their dream, their identity.
This success is not just a story on the field – it is a great inspirational story of rising from an underdog to the top of South Asian football.
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