• Asian Champions Trophy 2023 Hockey: India mounts comeback against Malaysia in the final; wins 4th title record

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    Asian Champions Trophy 2023 Hockey: India mounts comeback against Malaysia in the final; wins 4th title record

    The Indian men's hockey team trailed Malaysia 3-1 at halftime but came back to win 4-3...


    Digital Desk: On Saturday, the Indian men's hockey team obtained from two goals behind to defeat Malaysia 4-3 in the Asian Champions Trophy 2023 final at Chennai's Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium.


    With this triumph, India surpassed Pakistan as the most successful team in the Asian Champions Trophy.


    India's goals came from Jugraj Singh (9th minute), captain Harmanpreet Singh (45th), Gurjant Singh (45th), and Akashdeep Singh (56th). For Malaysia, Muhamad Aminudin (28th), Razie Rahim (18th), and Abu Kamal Azrai (14th).


    Soon after, India ranked fourth in the world, settled down and scored a breakthrough when Karthi Selvam drew a foul from the Malaysian defenders for India's first penalty corner.

    While Harmanpreet Singh was off the pitch, Jugraj Singh took the chance and struck a powerful drive on the right of the Malaysian custodian to give India a 1-0 lead.


    Malaysia's determined mindset and focus paid off in the 14th minute, when Hasan Azuan took advantage of the umpire's advantage and found Abu Kamal Azrai in the circle. To nullify India's lead, Abu Kamal Azrai flipped it over to Pathak.


    India had 56% of the first-half control and made nine circle invasions compared to Malaysia's seven, although they scored fewer goals.


    In the third quarter, India chased the game with extreme intensity. Up until the very last second, when India launched a great counterattack following Malaysia's unsuccessful penalty corner conversion, Malaysia withstood the pressure to deny India a significant opportunity.


    India tried to extend their lead in the last minutes by riding the momentum. The final score of the game, however, was 4-3 in India's favour.


    India previously won the league stage of the competition with four victories and a draw against the defending Asian Games champions Japan. In the semifinals, they won 5-0 over Japan.


    The Asian Champions Trophy is contested biennially by Asia's top six teams and was previously won by India in 2011 and 2016. In 2018, they split the championship with Pakistan when rain caused havoc in Muscat, Oman.


    The Asian Games 2023, which begin on September 23 in Hangzhou, China, will be the next challenge for the Indian hockey squad.