This is the second successive time that Bangladesh, five-time finalists and champions in 1999 in Kathmandu, could not make the last four after their failure in Islamabad two years ago. The other time they were eliminated from the group stage was in 1993 when the Games were held in Dhaka.

Friday's opening ceremony and yesterday afternoon's heavy showers left the ground in unplayable condition, but Diego Cruciani's boys appeared to be the only side struggling.

India, who have brought here the under-20 side for their preparation for the AFC Youth Championship to be held in October-November in their own backyard, were the superior side in the first-half and rushed blood in the fourth minute. However, Bangladesh captain Titu made a clearance inside the box after the centre-backs missed a low cross by Indian leftback Vashum, who put constant threat on the Bangladesh backline with his speedy runs.

Two minutes later, Ujjal made a breakthrough down the right but both the strikers, Emily and Topu, failed to meet a superb cross from the midfielder.

It was a one-way traffic afterwards as India went ahead in the 11th minute when striker Soshil Kumar -- chasing a through from the midfield -- slid the ball past goalkeeper Shakil from seven yards for his second goal in the tournament.

Halfway through the first-half, towering striker Branco Vincentczodo gave Shakil no chance when he put an inch-perfect right-side centre by Soshil Kumar into the back of the net with a bullet header.

Topu's long-range shot that evaded the Indian goal by inches in the injury time, was Bangladesh's only attempt on rival goal before halftime.

A desperate Bangladesh went at full throttle after the break but spoiled three great chances inside 10 minutes. Faisal Mahmud, who scored against Nepal, pushed the ball wide of an open net after Topu set him up in the 56th minute while Topu himself failed to beat the lone keeper after fullback Siraji cut the ball from right. Ujjal then sped into the box from right but his low drive was once again saved by Shilton Paul, who was outstanding under the Indian bar.

The pressure told in the 68th minute when Indian defender Hirohito handled the ball inside the area while trying to stop a cross by Topu. Titu kept his cool and sent Shilton the wrong way to reduce the margin.

Bangladesh mounted more pressure and Rintu had two chances to settle the issue from rebounds, but the midfielder's scorcher from 40 yards skimmed upright while his drive from 18 yards went miles over the unguarded post. In the dying moments, Ujjal beat one defender but Shilton pulled off another great save on the shot to take three-time champions India into the semifinals with five points.

Bangladesh finished with two points from a 1-1 draw against Nepal and a goalless with Afghanistan.

For Cruciani, it could well be the last match in the hot seat as the Bangladesh Football Federation had only extended the Argentine's contract for a month -- for the SA Games -- after the initial one-year contract. There is very little chance that the contract will be renewed as Cruciani.

"We presented India with the goals in the first-half. Everything looked bleak to me but hats off to my boys because they played wonderful football in the second-half," Cruciani said after the defeat.

"It's a sheer bad luck we have lost here today. We created so many chances and just as I had said earlier, there won't be any title for us if we could not utilise opportunities," he added.

BANGLADESH TEAM
Shakil (Tareq), Siraji, Ariful, Waly (Jahirul), Titu, Arman Aziz, Rintu, Ujjal, Topu (Robin) and Emily.