ANI
Moqi [China]
Rajkumar Pal’s sensational hat-trick helped the Indian men’s hockey team beat Malaysia comprehensively by an 8-1 margin in their third match of the Asian Champions Trophy in Moqi, China, on Wednesday.
Besides Rajkumar Pal (3’, 25’, 33’), Araijeet Singh Hundal (6’, 39’) Jugraj Singh (7’), Captain Harmanpreet Singh (22’) and Uttam Singh (40’) also contributed to India’s third consecutive win of the tournament.
With this win, they have consolidated their lead at the top of the points table, with nine points in three matches. Meanwhile, for Malaysia, Akhimullah Anuar (34’) scored the lone goal.
Riding high on momentum after back-to-back wins, India started the game aggressively. They put Malaysia on the back foot in no time, as they scored as many as three goals in the opening seven minutes of the match.
The first goal came from Rajkumar Pal (3’), who showcased remarkable stickwork. The second was scored by Araijeet Singh Hundal (6’), who found the top corner from the far post, shooting past the left shoulder of the Malaysian goalie, while the third goal came through Jugraj Singh’s powerful drag-flick during a penalty corner routine in the next minute of the opening quarter.
Meanwhile, unbeaten Pakistan played valiantly to register their first victory in the Asian Champions Trophy by beating Japan 2-1 in Hulun Buir.