Maharashtra's domination was evident from the beginning. They took the lead in the 34th minute when S Dulari stopped the push and captain Toppo Silvania's powerful shot beat Punjab 'keeper Amandeep Kaur to make it 1-0.

Maharashtra increased the lead in the 62nd minute when Ashwini, fed by L Marianus, scored a field goal from the left flank. Seven minutes later Punjab's Suman reduced the margin through a penalty corner.

In the men's semi-final, Maharashtra pipped Karnataka 7-5 in the tie-breaker to set up a title clash with favourites Punjab. Punjab humiliated Tamil Nadu 7-1 in a one-sided affair after leading 5-1 at half-time, in the first semi-final. The Maharashtra-Karnataka match ended in a 2-2 draw at the end of the regulation period and neither side could score further during extratime.

While all five players -- M Prakash, Gavin Ferreira, N Ravi, Manoj Lokhande and F Claes -- converted their strokes for the winners, custodian Edgar Mascarenhas dived full length to his right to save Kishore Kumar's hit, after Arjun Nalappa had shot above the post for the losers.

DALBIR SETS TWO MARKS: Dalbir Singh of Punjab became the cynosure of all spectators when he set up two new National marks in the snatch and jerk in 105 kg plus category of weight lifting for men. Dalbir tolled 322.5 kg to win the gold in this event.

While Dalbir lifted 167.5 kg in snatch to break the earlier National record of 160 kg, he lifted 202.5 kg in jerk to better the earlier record of 197.5 kg in this section.

Dalbir was followed by Kishore Kumar of Andhra Pradesh and Samsher Singh of Delhi who got the silver and bronze respectively having lifted a total weight of 192.5 kg and 182.5 kg respectively.

Bronze for Bengal: Favourites Bengal, managed to restore some pride when they won the bronze inmen's football defeating Goa 2-0 in the play-off match for the third position at the Palace Compound Ground today.

Maharashtra take on Assam in the final on Wednesday. Kerala pipped Punjab by a golden goal to clinch the bronze in the women's football championship.

TN struggle: Last year's runners-up Tamil Nadu struggled to beat Andhra Pradesh in four sets (25-20, 16-25, 25-19, 25-16) to enter the semifinals of the women's volleyball competition today.

TN men however made short work of Orissa 25-15, 25-19, 25-12 to cruise into the semifinals.

In a group `A' match, reigning champions Andhra Pradesh men, who bowed out of the competition yesterday losing their first two league ties against Kerala and runners-up Punjab, struggled hard to obtain the third position in the pool defeating Himachal Pradesh in four sets (25-14, 20-25, 26-24, 25-23).

MYTHILI MARCHES AHEAD: MS Mythili, the fifth seed and Tamil Nadu's key player who helped her state to the gold in the women's team event yesterday,provided a scintillating display of her forehand prowess in her convincing victory over Roma Akoijam of Manipur 21-12, 21-15, 21-10 in the table tennis competition.

Results (women): 1-Poulami Ghatak (WB) bt Rashmi DN (Kar) 21-9, 21-9 21-8; 2-NR Indu (TN) bt Deepali Purania (MP) 21-12, 21-13, 21-13; 3-Mouma Das (Ben) bt Sumal Poal (Kar) 21-18, 21-12, 21-9; 4-Anindita Chakraborty (Ben) bt Rajni Gupta (Pnb) 21-11, 21-19, 21-13; 5-MS Mythili (TN) bt Roma Akoijam (Man) 21-12, 21-15, 21-10; 6-Arun Selvi (TN) bt Pooja Rawat (Raj) 21-6, 21-9, 21-11; 7-Kasturi Chakraborty (Ben) bt Anita Modi (Raj) 21-9, 21-5, 21-11; Kanchan Basak (Pun) bt Chetna Gehlot (Raj) 21-2, 21-6, 21-4.

Hosts miss gold: Tamil Nadu today spoiled Manipur's chances of bagging all four gold in the triatholon event as Sampreeta Singh picked up the women's title clocking 2:27:47 hours today.