Hockey: Raj Kumar's hat-trick helps India thrash Malaysia 8-1
India are currently on top of the standings with nine points from three wins. The six-team tournament is being played in a round-robin format and the top four will advance to the semifinals on 16 September followed by the final on 17 September
PTI
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Indian hockey players celebrate after scoring sixth goal. PHOTO: X
Hulunbuir (China), 11 Sept
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.
India are currently on top of the
standings with nine points from three wins. The six-team tournament is being
played in a round-robin format and the top four will advance to the semifinals
on 16 September followed by the final on 17 September.
India had earlier defeated hosts
China 3-0 in their tournament-opener before getting the better of Japan 5-1. Paris
Olympics bronze-medallists 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, Harmanpreet 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's 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's pass and then a minute later, Uttam
scored from a rebound from a penalty corner.
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