Indian women football players celebrate after winning the final of the 11th South Asian Games against Nepal 3-1 at the Shaheed Mostafa Kamal Stadium in Kamalapur yesterday. Photo: STAR

India won the gold in the women's football of the 11th South Asian Games when they came from behind to hand a 3-1 defeat to Nepal in the trouble-hit final at Birshreshtha Shaheed Mostafa Kamal Stadium yesterday.

Nepal, who went down to a massive 8-0 thrashing to India in the group match, stunned their mighty opponents to take a lead in the 25th minute through Jamuna and ended the first half with a 1-0 lead.

After the resumption, India pressed hard for the equaliser and Devi leveled the margin converting a penalty in the 68th minute when the Malaysian referee awarded the 12-yard spot kick, but not before a scuffle between the referee and the Nepalese girls, who protested the decision and refrained from playing for 10 minutes.

However, when play resumed Indian Chanu struck twice in the 75th and 82nd minutes to seal the match.