Guwahati, Feb. 15: Nepal handed a 2-1 defeat to India for the 12th South Asian Games men's football gold medal at Indira Gandhi Stadium here this evening.

It was at the same ground a year ago that India inflicted a 2-1 defeat to the visitors in a Fifa World Cup qualifiers match.

Local lad Holicharan Narzary put India ahead in the 31st minute, converting a penalty kick awarded for a fault with Indian forward Sumeet Passi by the opponent defenders.

The Indians led by a solitary goal at half time.

However, the visitors bounced back strongly into the second half and their efforts yielded soon.

Substitute Prakash Budhatokhi equalised for Nepal with a 61st minute conversion of a free kick. His right footer from the 25-yard zone curled past the wall accurately into the net to leave Indian custodian Rehenesh T.P. gaping.

Budhatokhi was also instrumental in Nepal's second goal. His cross from the left found the agile Nawayug Shrestha, whose hattrick in the semi-finals helped Nepal overcome Maldives for a final berth on Saturday, inside the box. The latter did not make any mistake in tapping it home in the 71st minute.

Earlier in the afternoon, defending champions Bangladesh clinched the bronze medal, edging past Maldives 7-6 via tiebreakers in the playoff at the same ground.

The regulation time ended in a 2-2 draw with Ansar Hamza and Mohamed Muslih finding the net for Maldives and Aminur Rahman Sojib and Nabib Newab Ziban scoring for Bangladesh. In the penalty shootout, Maldives skipper Ismail Essa missed the net to concede the match.