Indian women's football team handed a fitting farewell to iconic Oinam Bembem Devi as the hosts trounced Nepal 4-0 to clinching the gold medal in the 12th South Asian Games at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, here today.
Young and athletic Kamala Devi Yumnam was the architect of the win with a double strike (32nd, 56th minutes) while the experienced duo of captain Bembem and Ngangom Bala Devi marshalled the midfield brilliantly to hand India its second successive title at the SAG.
India toyed with Nepalese defence in the second half with another Manipuri duo of Bala Devi (71st) and Ashalata Devi (80th) completing the rout.
Odisha's Sasmita Malik too impressed from the left flank as she was instrumental in many of the moves, one of them resulting in the Bala Devi's goal.
After a flurry of misses in the first half hour, Kamala Devi tapped her opportunity home following a cross to give the Indian eves 1-0 lead at the break.
The agile Kamala Devi made it 2-0 for India after she volleyed home her chance in the 56th minute.
Bala Devi tapped home a Sasmita cross to make it 3-0 for India.
With nothing going in Nepal's favour, Ashalata Devi blasted home from distance to wrap up the issue.
Goalkeeper Aditi Chauhan also stood out under the bar as she latched onto a Nepali header to deny them in the 63rd minute.
Earlier, India missed some glorious chances with Bembem Devi's shot from outside the box flew over the bar, while Kamala Devi's 20th minute shot went inches wide of the goal.
