KOLKATA, July 26: India’s eastern state of West Bengal erupted with joy to celebrate East Bengal’s 3-1 win over Thailand’s Bec Tero Sasana in the final of the South East Asian (ASEAN) club soccer championships in Jakarta on Saturday.

“It’s a historic moment for East Bengal and Indian football. It will put life into the game in the game in the country,” Kalyan Mazumdar, general secretary of the club, told Reuters by phone from Jakarta.

India’s last major international victory came at the same venue in the 1962 Asian Games.

Indian captain Bhaichung Bhutia, who played with English second division club Bury FC in 2001, was the tournament’s top-scorer with nine goals.—Reuters