Bengal girls bowed out of the sub-junior national football championship with a 2-5 defeat against Manipur in the semi-final at Berhampore on Monday. 

Despite being down by two goals Bengal bounced back, riding on Malati Munda and Moushumi Khatun to make it 2-2. But Manipur showed more grit and combination to have the last laugh finally. 

Still, Bengal coach Minati Roy and her assistant Alpana Seal sounded optimistic about the gains Bengal had in the competition. 

Alpana said, “A few among this team like Nisha Haldar, Mushumi Murmu, our custodian, and Sayani Chakrabarty were the discoveries of the competition. If these girls can be groomed properly then they can be assets for the women's team in future."

Coach Minati Roy lamented adding, "We traveled to Krishnanagar, Midnapore, and Jalpaiguri to scout girls and bring them to Kolkata and had only eight days' practice. We came to know from the Manipur camp that they had a month's intensive training before coming to Berhampore. These girls have potential, but unless you go through some longer preparatory camp you cannot build up the combination which our football lacked today.”