India vs Malaysia Trophy 2024, Highlights:Rajkumar Pal scored a hattrick while Araijeet Singh Hundal netted a brace to help India hammer Malaysia 8-1 in their Asian Champions Trophy hockey match. Rajkumar netted once each in the first three quarters while Hundal found the net in first and third quarters. Jugraj Singh and Harmanpreet Singh also got into the scoresheet from the penalty corners while Uttam Singh grabbed India eighth and final goal in Q3. This was India’s third straight win of the tournament.
Young striker Raj Kumar Pal struck a hat-trick as title-holders India sealed a semifinal spot after thrashing Malaysia 8-1 for their third consecutive win in the Hero Asian Champions Trophy, here on Wednesday. Apart from Raj Kumar (3rd, 25th and 33rd minute), Araijeet Singh Hundal (6th and 39th minute), Jugraj Singh (7th minute), skipper Harmanpreet Singh (22nd minute), and Uttam Singh (40th minute) sounded the board for India.
For Malaysia, Akhimullah Anuar (34th minute) managed the solitary strike. The six-team tournament is being played in a round-robin format and the top four will advance to the semifinals on September 16 followed by the final on September 17. India had earlier defeated hosts China 3-0 in their tournament-opener before getting the better of Japan 5-1.
Paris Olympics bronze-medalists India will next take on Korea on Thursday before finishing their league engagements against arch-rivals Pakistan on Saturday. Against Malaysia, the odds were against India going by recent results. The last match between these two sides was the final of the 2023 Asian Champions Trophy where India were trailing 1-3 at half-time.
In that game, the Indians came roaring back to eventually register a 4-3 win to claim the title. The Indian strikers continued their fine form in the tournament and scored five field goals and three penalty corners, converted by Jugraj, Harman Preet and Uttam. Against Malaysia, the Indians started on the front foot with relentless attacks in the first quarter.
And Raj Kumar didn’t take long to hand India the lead, scoring a solo goal displaying incredible stickwork, thereby making a mockery of the Malaysian back-line. Three minutes later, Araijeet doubled India lead by finding the corner of the Malaysian post. A minute later, Jugraj extended the lead with a perfect penalty corner conversion with a powerful drag-flick. The team headed into the first quarter with a dominant 3-0 lead.
Down by three goals, Malaysia started on an aggressive note in the second quarter and soon earned a penalty corner but the Indian defence stood tall. India secured back-to-back penalty corners in the 22nd minute and Harmanpreet, one of world’s the best drag-flickers, buried the ball into the Malaysian goal with a vintage flick to extend the lead.
Minutes later, Raj Kumar scored his second goal after being set up by Araijeet and Uttam as India went into half-time with a commanding 5-0 lead. Three minutes after the change of ends, Raj Kumar scored his first hat-trick at the senior level from a rebound after vice-captain Vivek Sagar Prasad’s initial strike was saved by the Malaysian goalkeeper.
Malaysia managed to pull a goal back soon through Anaur. But there was no stopping India as Araijeet scored a field goal, tapping in Nilkanta Sharma pass and then a minute later, Uttam scored from a rebound from a penalty corner. In the first match of the day, Pakistan beat Japan 2-1 to improve their chances of reaching the semifinals.
India vs Malaysia, Asian Champions Trophy 2024: DOMINANT START
India began on the front foot with Raj Kumar Pal, showcasing remarkable stickwork and scoring as early as the third minute. Three minutes later, Hundal Araijeet Singh left the audience in awe with a sensational goal, hammering it home from the far post even as he had the tightest of angles to find a gap. With the sensational strike, Hundal gave a glimpse of his drag-flicking abilities.
Jugraj Singh made it 3-0 in the first quarter, leaving the Malaysians rattled. The fourth goal came from captain Harmanrpeet Singh, who drag-flicked one into the net. Raj Kumar Pal then completed his hat-trick, scoring a goal each in the second and third quarters. Hundal found the back of the net in the third quarter to double his tally before Uttam Singh joined the party and made it 8-1.
Malaysia found a response only after Raj Kumar Pal hat-trick. Anuar Akhimullah scored their only goal in the third quarter. While India are sitting pretty at the top of the table, Malaysia are languishing at the bottom of the six-team table with a draw and two defeats. The top four make it to the semi-final of the tournament.
India vs Malaysia hockey Match Today: IND win 8-1, qualify for semifinals
An 8-1 hammering of Malaysia, helps India seal their place in the semifinals of the Asian Champions Trophy 2024. Resounding win for the Indian team with a hat-trick from Rajkumar Pal, brace from Araijeet Singh and goals from Harmanpreet Singh, Uttam Singh and Jugraj.
India hat-trick of wins, including the 8-1 hammering of Malaysia would give them three valuable points as India will continue to sit pretty atop the ACT 2024 standings. 3 minutes remain in the fourth.
India vs Malaysia Live Score, Asian Champions Trophy 2024: India next match will be against Korea Republic (South Korea) tomorrow at 1.15pm IST. They then play their last group game against Pakistan, their historic rivals who are now unfortunately pretty much rank outsiders when playing India, on September 14 at 1.15pm
India vs Malaysia Live Score, Asian Champions Trophy 2024: India started their tournament in Hulunbuir, China by beating the hosts 3-0. Sukhjeet Singh, Uttam Singh and Abhishek were the goalscorers for them. They then beat Japan 5-1 with Sukhjeet scoring a brace, Abhishek and Uttam getting on the scoring card again and Sanjay getting a goal as well.
A five-star performance from India as they score the fifth goal of the match. Hundal and Uttam combine on the right, before the latter gets an effort on target. The keeper saves it but the rebound falls kindly for Rajkumar Pal, who scores an easy tap in.
Harmanpreet dragflick is blocked but the refereer points at the spot once again. A seventh PC for India in this match. They have only converted one of the previous six. The final quarter is underway! India now eye the 10-goal mark with 15 minutes left. Complete dominance from Craig Fulton’s men. Can Hundal also complete his hat-trick?
