Table of Contents
Asian Champions: In a thrilling conclusion to the league stage of the Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament in Hulunbuir, India captain Harmanpreet Singh emerged as the hero with his decisive performance. Singh scored twice from penalty corners, leading India to a narrow 2-1 victory over arch-rivals Pakistan. This win marked India fifth consecutive triumph in the round-robin competition, maintaining their unbeaten streak. For Pakistan, this was their first loss of the tournament.
Pakistan initially took the lead with a goal from Ahmad Nadeem in the 8th minute. Harmanpreet Singh equalized for India in the 13th minute with a powerful drag-flick from a penalty corner. He doubled his tally and secured the win with another penalty corner conversion in the 19th minute. The match was significant for both teams as they had already secured their spots in the semifinals.
This victory continued India dominance over Pakistan in recent years. In their previous encounters, India had decisively beaten Pakistan, including a 10-2 win at the Hangzhou Asian Games last year and a 4-0 victory during the Chennai edition of the Asian Champions Trophy. At the 2022 Asia Cup in Jakarta, India held Pakistan to a 1-1 draw and in the 2021 ACT in Dhaka, India defeated Pakistan 4-3 to win the bronze medal.
The match was intense from the start, with both teams showing aggressive play. India initially controlled the game but found themselves trailing when Pakistan Hannan Shahid clever play in the midfield set up Nadeem for the opening goal. India responded by maintaining composure and gradually built their attacks, leading to Harmanpreet penalty corner goals.
Pakistan had a chance to equalize just before halftime with a penalty corner, but Sufyan Khan attempt was thwarted by hitting the top bar. In the second half, India continued to dominate possession and earned additional penalty corners, though they couldn’t convert all of them. Pakistan also managed several attacks and earned four penalty corners but failed to break through India’s defense.
The match was saw a heated exchange between Harmanpreet Singh and Pakistan Ashraf Waheed Rana after an incident involving Jugraj Singh. The confrontation led to Rana receiving a yellow card and a 10-minute suspension following a referral for serious misconduct. In another match on the same day, Malaysia and Korea played out a 3-3 draw.
Fight in Final Quarter: India vs Pakistan
The turning point came in the fourth quarter when Pakistan Rana Waheed Ashraf received a 10-minute yellow card following a contentious tackle on India’s Jugraj Singh. The Indian players were visibly upset with the challenge, and what followed was an on-field altercation between both teams.
The incident was referred to the video umpire, who determined that Ashraf’s foul was serious enough to warrant a 10-minute suspension. The clash left Pakistan a player short for the remainder of the game, putting them on the back foot as they attempted to equalise.
Harmanpreet Singh brace leads India to win
Earlier in the match, Pakistan took the lead through a well-executed goal by Nadeem Shaheen in the first quarter. India responded quickly. Captain Harmanpreet Singh converted a penalty corner with a precise drag-flick to level the score at 1-1 before the end of the first quarter. In the second quarter, Harmanpreet once again stepped up, scoring another goal through a penalty corner to give India a 2-1 advantage. Despite Pakistan best efforts to stage a comeback, India defence held firm and the score remained unchanged.
Asian Champions Trophy match Full of Emotions
The India-Pakistan rivalry is always filled with intensity, but the clash in this match added an extra layer of drama. With high stakes on the line, both teams were fighting not only for victory but also for bragging rights in one of the fiercest rivalries in sport. India disciplined defence and Harmanpreet leadership ensured that they maintained their unbeaten streak in the tournament. Meanwhile, Pakistan frustrations were evident in the moments leading up to the altercation, which cost them dearly as they struggled to regain control.
What’s ahead at ACT 2024
With the group stage now behind them, India is gearing up for the semifinals with confidence. Pakistan, on the other hand, will need to regroup and focus on maintaining discipline as they move forward in the tournament. The altercation, while unfortunate, highlighted the passion both teams bring to the field in this prestigious event.
Asian Champions Trophy hockey: IND 2-1 PAK in Q4
That’s another case of indiscipline from a Pakistan player in terms of receiving a card. India are NOT happy with a tackle from Rana on Jugraj and there is some argy-bargy going on after the play. The umpire refers it to the video referee and it is deemed bad enough for a 10-min yellow. India go to Jugraj.. not once but twice! Surprise calls from India and good shots too. The first is rushed well and the second one with a stunning block on the post by Hammadudin.
India then have another chance and it is HARMANPREET SINGH WITH A FIELD GOAL ATTEMPT! But the reverse hit is blocked. That would have been some way to get to No 200 officially. Pakistan then charge on the counter and looked like Sumit put in a last-ditch tackle.
Harmanpreet Singh Brace hands India 3-1 win over Korea
Skipper Harmanpreet Singh scored a brace as defending champions India beat Korea 3-1 to register their fourth consecutive win at the Hero Asian Champions Trophy here on Thursday. Paris Olympics bronze medalist India had defeated China 3-0, Japan 5-0 before thrashing last year’s runner-up Malaysia 8-1. Already assured of a semifinal berth, India will play arch-rivals Pakistan on Saturday in their last league match in the six-team competition.
The top four teams from the league stages will qualify for the semifinals scheduled on Monday, while the final will be played next Tuesday. Araijeet Singh Hundal, who scored a brace against Malaysia, scored the first goal in the eighth minute before Harmanpreet, regarded as one of the world best dragflickers, converted two penalty corners in the ninth and 43rd minutes. Korea lone goal was scored by Jihun Yang in the 30th minute from a penalty corner. As has been the case in the tournament so far, the Indians started on an aggressive note.
India’s reserve goalkeeper Suraj Karkera was impressive under the bar, denying Korea on a few occasions in the second quarter. After an impressive first quarter, the Indians seemed to have gone into a shell in the next 15 minutes as Korea dominated the proceedings with continuous forays on the rival citadel. The Indian defence stood tall until Korea pulled a goal just at the stroke of half-time through Yang whose effort went into the net after getting a deflection from Manpreet Singh’s stick from a penalty corner opportunity.
The Koreans secured back-to-back penalty corners in the 35th minute but India defended bravely. India secured their second penalty corner two minutes later but wasted the chance. The holders managed to restore their two-goal lead in the 43rd minute when Harmanpreet scored with a powerful low flick to the left of the Korean goalkeeper Jaehan Kim. At the start of the fourth quarter, Jarmanpreet Singh.
