Maharashtra win men's football bronze

Defending champions Maharashtra scraped past a determined Services with a solitary goal victory to bag the bronze medal in the men's football event of the 31st National Games in Ludhiana on Thursday.

The nimble-footed Samsung Singh scored the match-winner for Maharashtra four minutes before half-time to seal the fate of their opponents in a fast paced encounter.

Samsung Singh deflected the ball home from close following a controlled pass from Narender Matei with none of the Services defenders in position.

Goa and Punjab will meet in the final on Friday.

In the women's bronze medal play-off, Bengal made amends for their premature exit as they defeated Bihar 3-1 in Jalandhar.

Bengal conceded the first goal but bounced back with Pampa Sarkar, Papiya Ghosh and Rinku Ghosh scoring in what turned out to be a rather one-sided contest.

Captain Anjana Rani scored the lone goal for Bihar.