Hockey Asia Cup: Clinical India fight back from a goal down to defeat Malaysia 4-1

Rajgir (Bihar), Sep 4 (IANS) The Indian men’s hockey team came back from a goal down and stormed over the finish line, defeating Malaysia 4-1, in their second Super 4s game of the Men’s Asia Cup 2025 at the Rajgir Hockey Stadium here on Thursday.

On a landmark day for captain Harmanpreet Singh, who won his 250th cap, India scored through seasoned Manpreet Singh (17’), Sukhjeet Singh (19’), Shilanand Lakra (24’), and Vivek Sagar Prasad (38’). Meanwhile, Shafiq Hassan (2’) found the back of the net for Malaysia.

In other matches, Bangladesh beat Kazakhstan 5-1 in a playoff, while China stunned Korea 3-0 in a Super 4s clash, maintaining their chances of finishing in the top two and reaching the final.

It was Malaysia who got the better of the early exchanges, as they scored with their first attack when Shafiq Hassan (2’) found the back of the net. After that, Malaysia dominated possession and continued to maintain the pressure on the hosts.

Midway through the first quarter, India, with Dilpreet Singh, Harmanpreet Singh, and co, started to build in attack, but Malaysia continued to hold out. India finished the quarter in the ascendancy, but were yet to find the equaliser. Malaysia led 1-0 after the first quarter.

In the first few minutes of the second quarter, India won five back-to-back penalty corners, and four were thwarted. The fifth penalty corner saw Harmanpreet Singh’s shot saved, after which Manpreet Singh (17’), India’s most experienced player, pounced on the chance and made it 1-1.

The momentum was now with the 1975 World Cup winner, and a couple of minutes later, Sukhjeet Singh (19’) made it 2-1 for the hosts. With the half-hour mark around the corner, Dilpreet Singh picked up the ball in the middle of the park and drove it in towards Shilanand Lakra (24’), who deflected it past the goalkeeper to make it 3-1. Malaysia attacked in the final phase of the first half, but India’s defence kept them at bay, and the hosts went into the half-time break with a 3-1 lead.

Early in the third quarter, Malaysia won a penalty corner and were hoping to reduce the deficit. However, Krishan Bahadur Pathak saved it brilliantly to help maintain India’s lead. The hosts were looking to impose themselves further and continued to attack. Midway through the quarter, Manpreet set it up for Vivek Sagar Prasad (38’), who promptly made it 4-1. From then on, though, Malaysia started fighting back and put together a few good moves as they went in search of their second goal. However, India’s defence held on and ended the quarter with the three-goal lead intact.

Firmly in control of the contest, the Indian Men’s Hockey Team dominated possession in the early exchanges of the fourth quarter. Not willing to give in, the Malaysian team kept on attacking, but India’s defence, marshalled by captain Harmanpreet Singh, slammed the door shut on their opponents. India eventually came away with a comfortable 4-1 win on the night.

India will play China next in the Super 4s Pool stage on Saturday.

--IANS

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