**Hyderabad, September 10, 2024*: In a stunning victory, war-torn Syria triumphed over defending champions India with a 3-0 win to claim their first-ever Intercontinental Cup title at the GMC Balayogi Athletic Stadium in Hyderabad on Monday. This marks Syria’s biggest victory over India in the tournament’s history and an extraordinary achievement for a nation rebuilding amid years of conflict.Ranked 93rd in the world, Syria dominated the game from the outset, securing their title with six points from two matches. India, ranked 124th, struggled throughout the tournament and failed to score a single goal, ending their campaign on a disappointing note.The match’s opening goal came early, as Syria’s Mahmoud Al Aswad found the net in the 7th minute after his blocked cross allowed him a second attempt, which beat Indian goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. Despite India maintaining strong possession during the first half, they were unable to break through Syria’s defense, led by goalkeeper Elias Hadaya.India began the second half with attacking intent but continued to suffer from poor finishing, failing to convert opportunities into goals. Syria capitalized on their dominance, solidifying their victory in the latter stages of the game.Syria’s win makes them the third nation to lift the Intercontinental Cup, joining past winners India (2018, 2023) and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (2022). India’s campaign, which started with a goalless draw against Mauritius, ended without a single goal, as Syria secured victories over both Mauritius (2-0) and India (3-0) to lift the title.This triumph is especially significant for Syria, a country that has faced years of devastation due to civil war and the 2023 earthquake, which claimed over 6,000 lives. Despite immense challenges, the Syrian national team has shown remarkable resilience, continuing to represent their nation on the international stage. Their journey from withdrawing from tournaments like the WAAF Cup in 2013 due to the conflict to now lifting the Intercontinental Cup serves as a symbol of hope and perseverance.