The Indian men’s football team clinched their ninth SAFF Championship title as they beat Kuwait 5-4 on penalties, following a 1-1 draw after extra time in an intense final at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium, in Bengaluru on Tuesday.

Supporters from all corners of the nation flocked to the stadium, ardently backing the Blue Tigers with resounding renditions of "Vande Mataram" and chants of "India! India!" Their unwavering support echoed through the air as India secured their third trophy of the calendar year, a feat rarely witnessed in Indian football.

As soon as the final was over eminent personalities from various fields took to social media to celebrate India’s triumph.

Their encouraging and applauding tweets serve as a testament to the remarkable impact the Blue Tigers have made on the nation. Let's take a look at some of the notable praises showered upon the Indian football heroes.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the team and said this fighting spirit will inspire upcoming sportspersons.

“India crowned champions, yet again! The Blue Tigers reign supreme at the #SAFFChampionship2023! Congrats to our players. The Indian Team’s remarkable journey, powered by the determination and tenacity of these athletes, will continue to inspire upcoming sportspersons,” Modi tweeted.

Amit Shah, Minister of Home Affairs of India, and Anurag Thakur, Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports of India also congratulated the Blue Tigers for putting up a splendid show.

The Chief Ministers of Delhi, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal, expressed their delight and admiration for the Indian Football Team through heartfelt messages on their respective Twitter handles.

Priyanka Gandhi also expressed her appreciation for the Blue Tigers.

Aaditya Thackeray, President of Mumbai District Football Association, also congratulated the winning team.

Former Indian forward Jeje Lalpekhlua,hailed the team as deserving winners. "Well deserved 💪🏻🥂 @IndianFootball," said Lalpekhlua.

Indian women's team goalkeeper Aditi Chauhan, and defender Dalima Chhibber extended their heartfelt congratulations to the senior men's team for their remarkable feat.

"Congratulations to the entire team for an absolutely stunning tournament 👏🏼 👏🏼," Chhibber tweeted.

Sharing a couple of images of the Indian team celebrating their win with the fans, Indian cricket team Legend Sachin Tendulkar wrote, “What a phenomenal display of strength, determination and nerves of steel! Huge congratulations to #TeamIndia!

Indian cricket team player Shreyas Iyer attended both the semi-final and final matches, showing his support for the Blue Tigers from the stands. Iyer's compatriot, Yashasvi Jaiswal, who is currently in the West Indies for the upcoming series, also attended the group stage game against Kuwait to lend his support to the Indian football team.

In a similar vein, other prominent Indian cricketers lauded India’s fighting spirit in the tournament.

Olympic Medalist and current member of the Lok Sabha, Colonel Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, also congratulated India for clinching the SAFF Championship for a record 9th time.

Abhishek Bachchan, the co-owner of the Hero Indian Super League (ISL) side Chennaiyin FC, commended the Indian team for their dominant performance in the tournament.

Notable actors Sunil Shetty and Mammootty shared heartwarming messages, adding to the chorus of praises for the Indian football team.

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Chennaiyin FC Sunil ChhetriAbhishek Bachchan