Asian Champions Trophy Hockey: Raj Kumar Pal’s hattrick powers India into semis with 8-1 hammering of Malaysia

Hulunbuir: Defending champions India booked their spot at some point of the semifinals of the Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament in a resounding fashion with a eight-1 hammering of Malaysia for his or her 1/3 successive round robin win on Wednesday. Raj Kumar Pal (3rd, twenty fifth and thirty 1/3 minute), Araijeet Singh Hundal (sixth and 39th minute), Jugraj Singh (seventh minute), Harmanpreet Singh (twenty 2d minute), and Uttam Singh (40th minute) sounded the board for India.

For Malaysia, Akhimullah Anuar (thirty fourth minute) managed the solitary strike. India are currently on top of the standings with 9 points from three wins. The six-team tournament is being played in a round-robin format and the pinnacle four will advance to the semifinals on September sixteen followed by the final on September 17. India will play Korea next on Thursday.

Riding high on momentum after back-to-back wins, India started the game aggressively and put Malaysia on the backfoot in no time as they scored as many as three goals at some point of the outlet seven minutes of the match. The first goal came from Rajkumar, who showcased remarkable stickwork. The 2d was scored by Araijeet, who found the pinnacle corner from the some distance post, shooting past the left shoulder of the Malaysian goalie.

Jugraj’s powerful drag-flick for the duration of a penalty corner routine at some point of the following minute of the outlet quarter made it 3-Zero for India. Malaysia, on the opposite hand, took time to settle in. They survived greater than one penalty corners at some point of the following minutes of the outlet quarter and began the following quarter on a positive note.

They earned their first penalty corner of the match at some point of the 18th minute, but Suraj Karkera, who was below the bar, made a simple save. India launched an instantaneous counterattack and earned yet some other penalty corner, but the Malaysian first rusher averted the risk. India continued to make attacking forays into the Malaysian 1/2 of. They earned a series of penalty corners, with the last one being converted by Captain Harmanpreet Singh, making it Four-Zero by the twenty 2d minute.

Rajkumar added a 2d goal to his name at some point of the twenty fifth minute, finding the back of the online on a rebound off the Malaysian goalie after a shot taken by Uttam Singh at some point of the circle. While Malaysia made errors in defence, India were clinical in their attack, thus ending the first 1/2 of with a dominant 5-Zero lead.

The 1/3 quarter continued in the same way, with the Indian team putting forward control of the game through relentless attacks. Rajkumar went on to accomplish his hat-trick as he scored on a rebound off Malaysian goalkeeper Adrian, who had blocked Vivek Sagar Prasad’s initial shot in an open play.

Meanwhile, Malaysia sneaked into India’s circle and pulled a goal back through Akhimullah Anuar (34′) at some point of the following minute. Alternatively, India went on to feature two more goals to their tally as Hundal scored his 2d goal at some point of the 39th minute, while Uttam slotted the ball home after a chaotic penalty corner routine at some point of the 40th minute, ending the 1/3 quarter with an important eight-1 scoreline.

It was a quiet final quarter as India slowed their tempo, and Malaysia couldn’t capitalise on the chance. With about six seconds remaining, India requested a video referral for a penalty corner but was unsuccessful, thus no in the same way goals were scored at some point of the final quarter.

Expressing delight over India’s 1/3 consecutive win, Hero of the Match, Arajieet Singh Hundal said, “We desire to go at some point of in every game, we must always win every game, it's what we plan in team meetings. We are here to win. In my view, the last two games were now below mark, but I’m accurately happy that I scored these days. I get my self belief back day-to-day, and I will do an even deal better for India at some point of the upcoming games.”