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Asian Champions Trophy 2023 hockey: India script comeback against Malaysia in final to win record fourth title



The Indian men's hockey team was down 3-1 at half-time but turned the tables on Malaysia to secure a 4-3 win.



World No. 9 Malaysia, playing in their maiden Asian Champions Trophy final, made a brisk start and had more incursions in the first five minutes.

India, fourth in the hockey rankings, settled down soon after and got a breakthrough after Karthi Selvam drew a foul from the Malaysian defence for India’s first penalty corner.
Jugraj Singh took the shot while Harmanpreet Singh was off the pitch and delivered a powerful drive on the right of the Malaysian custodian to give India a 1-0 lead.
The attacking approach and alertness of Malaysia paid off in the 14th minute when Hasan Azuan played on the umpire’s advantage and found Abu Kamal Azrai in the circle. Abu Kamal Azrai flicked it over Pathak to cancel India’s lead.

India earned their second penalty corner on the brink of the first quarter but failed to capitalise on the opportunity.
The Malaysian hockey team turned on the heat in the second quarter. Malaysia exploited gaps in the Indian defence and scored twice through four penalty corners as India found themselves two goals down for the first time in the tournament.
Razie Rahim, Malaysia’s all-time top goal-scorer, made it 2-1 in the 18th minute and Aminudin Muhamad’s drag-flick two minutes before half-time made it 3-1.
India dominated 56 per cent of the possession in the first half and made nine circle penetrations compared to Malaysia’s seven but had fewer goals to show.
India chased the game with tremendous urgency in the third quarter. Malaysia absorbed the pressure to deny India meaningful openings until the last minute when India sprung a brilliant counter-attack after Malaysia’s failed penalty corner conversion.
A brilliant run by Sukhjeet Singh drew a foul from behind by a Malaysian defender in the circle, giving India a penalty stroke. Captain Harmanpreet Singh, who ended as the top-scorer of the tournament with nine goals, buried the shot into the top net to reduce the deficit.
With 30 seconds to go, Harmanpreet Singh was in the thick of the action once again to start India’s attack for an equaliser with a cutting pass to Karthi Selvam inside the circle. Karthi Selvam teamed up with Sukhjeet Singh and Gurjant Singh tapped it into the equaliser.
Malaysia changed their approach in the final quarter. From defending deep, Malaysia went in search of a lead once again. However, it was India who turned the tables with Akashdeep Singh netting the winner in the 56th minute.
Malaysia’s Hasan Azuan was handed a five-minute suspension, reducing Malaysia down to 10 men in the final four minutes.
Riding on the momentum, India looked to increase their lead in the final minutes. However, the match ended with a scoreline of 4-3 in India’s favour.

Earlier in the tournament, India topped the league stage earlier with four wins and a draw against the reigning Asian Games champions Japan. They beat Japan 5-0 in the semi-finals.
Contested by Asia’s top six sides biennially, the Asian Champions Trophy was previously won by India in 2011 and 2016. They shared the trophy with Pakistan in 2018 after rain played spoilsport in Muscat, Oman.
The Indian hockey team’s next assignment will be the Asian Games 2023 starting in Hangzhou, China on September 23.

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ASIAN GAMES HOCKEY - GOLD Medal INDIA

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India win 5th Asian Champions Trophy hockey title after beating resolute China

Jugarj Singh's 51st minute goal proved to be the difference as India defeated China 1-0 in the final to win their 5th Asian Champions Trophy on September 17, Tuesday.


India clinched their 5th Asian Champions Trophy title

The Indian team won their 5th Asian Champions trophy crown as they defeated a resolute China 1-0 on September 17, Tuesday. Jugraj Singh scored the decisive goal in the 51st minute to help India secure the win as China made the defending champions work hard for the win in the end. India and China had faced each other in their tournament opener and it was the former who had won the match 3-0. Harmanpreet Singh and Co. were coming into the game as the hot favourites but the hosts weren't ready to give up without a fight.