India trounced Malaysia 8-1 in the Asian Champions Trophy 2024, their third successive triumph. Rajkumar Pal scored a hat trick to help India overcome its opposition and advance to the semifinals.
India continues to top the table in points, further strengthening their chances by winning this match.
India’s Dominance in the Tournament
Match |
Result |
Goal Scorers |
India vs China |
3-0 |
Sukhjeet, Uttam, Abhishek |
India vs Japan |
3-0 |
Sukhjeet (2), Abhishek, Sanjay, Uttam |
India vs Malaysia |
8-1 |
Rajkumar (3), Araijeet (2), Jugraj, Harmanpreet, Uttam |
Upcoming Matches:
- India vs South Korea: February 1, 13:15 IST.
- India vs Pakistan: September 14, 13:15 IST.
Rajkumar Pal’s Hat-Trick, India Scoring Blitz
“Rajkumar Pal headlined India’s aggressive performance as they stormed to a 8-1 win over Malaysia.”
- Rajkumar Pal’s Hat-Trick: Goals in the 3rd, 25th, and 33rd minutes.
- Other Scorers:
- Araijeet Singh Hundal: 6th & 39th minutes.
- Jugraj Singh: 7th minute.
- Harmanpreet Singh: 22nd minute.
- Uttam Singh: 40th minute.
- Malaysia’s Lone Goal: Akhimullah Anuar (34th minute).
Rajkumar Pal scored three goals in the 3rd, 25th, and 33 minutes to headline India’s aggressive show as Malaysia folded without a fight.
Araijeet Singh Hundal also scored twice in the 6th and 39th minutes, while Jugraj Singh (7th minute), skipper Harmanpreet Singh (22nd minute), and Uttam Singh (40th) were other goal-getters for India.
Malaysia could only get one in through Akhimullah Anuar in the 34th minute, but it was nowhere close to being able to challenge Indian supremacy.
India had earlier opened their campaign with a 3-0 win against China before they beat Japan by an identical margin in the second game.
Goals by Sukhjeet Singh, Uttam Singh, and Abhishek in the first match against China his laid India triumphed in its beautiful journey.
In the second match, India defeated Japan with a brilliant performance. Sukhjeet Singh scored twice, and Abhishek, Uttam Singh, and Sanjay all netted once each.
Related articles: Is Hockey Really the National Game of India? Find Out!
A Brief History Of India’s Domination In The Asian Champions Trophy
Image Credit: SportStar
However, India showed that they are still the top dogs in the Asian Champions Trophy with a commanding 5-1 victory over Malaysia.
India has been a force to reckon with in the Sudirman Cup ever since it began back in 2011 in Ordos, China.
The first in 2011, India lifted the trophy, beating Pakistan in a nerve-wracking shootout.
After Pakistan won the next two championships in 2012 and 2013, India claimed another title in 2016 by defeating Pakistan.
The final in Muscat, Oman, was washed out by rain leading to India and Pakistan being declared as joint winners for the 2018 edition.
South Korea went on to claim the title at the 2021 edition, their first win in history, and also became the only other side apart from India or Pakistan to lift an ACC inter-country Tournament when they beat Japan in the final.
In 2023, India got the upper side and came first by defeating Malaysia; it was a milestone as, for the very first time, Pakistan could not make it to even the top four.
India’s Next Matches: Korean Republic And Famous Foe Pakistan
India will face the Korean Republic (South Korea) in a match to be played on Thursday, February 1, at 13:15 IST. After that, at 1:15 pm IST on September 14, India will play their most arch-rivals, Pakistan, in a group A match.
Pakistan may traditionally have been a force at the Asian Champions Trophy, but they head into this clash as rank outsiders going by recent form.
They fearlessly walked across to the other side, defying tradition and convention.
The Indian form has been consistent while their performance in the tournament tilts them as favourites against Pakistan – indeed far closer than the first odds provided opens it up.
On the attacking front, Rajkumar Pal, along with Araijeet Singh Hundal and skipper Harmanpreet, have been unplayable at times, as shown by their five-goal tally in three matches so far while defensively, they have let just two slip past them.
The side is on a winning streak, and they will want to carry the same form into their journey in the remainder of the Asian Champions Trophy 2024 .
The matches ahead will determine their depth and likeness to repeat as Champions, but from what has been seen thus far in the year so willing them back-to-back might not be that hard despite any stiff competition.
Want To Get Updated?
Keep up with the latest updates on sports, like Cricket, Football, Table Tennis, Shooting, Squash, Lawn Tennis, Karate, Taekwondo, and Martial Arts.
sportstar.thehindu.com/
espn.in