India overcome Pakistan to win gold in handball

India dethroned Pakistan in the men's handball, while their women counterparts also clinched the gold after beating Bangladesh to stamp the home country's supremacy in the discipline at the 12th South Asian Games here on Monday.

Indian men beat Pakistan 32-31 in a nail-biting summit clash that went down to the wire at the Laxmibai National Institute of Physical Education Northeast Regional Center grounds here.

The Indian men's team thus exacted revenge of their loss in the 2010 edition summit clash in Dhaka. 

The Indian women's side, on the other hand, defended the title they had won in 2010 edition, by beating Bangladesh 45-25.

In the men's final, India were leading the match by a good margin but Pakistan fought back towards the end to narrow down the gap.

The home side faced some anxious moments as they were leading by just one goal, but ultimately they pulled it off and wild celebrations broke out at the stands where Indian Olympic Association President N Ramachandran was also watching the proceedings. Bangladesh beat Nepal 37-25 to win the bronze. In the women's final, India were the much superior side.

Bangladesh gave a fight initially but Indian women gradually took the game away from them in the second half to eventually win the final comfortably. Pakistan won the bronze after beating Nepal 28-24.