India's captain Harmanpreet Singh was the star of the show as he scored twice from penalty corners to lead his team to a 2-1 victory over arch-rivals Pakistan in their final league match of the Hero Asian Champions Trophy (ACT) hockey tournament on Saturday.
In a contest marked by intense rivalry, Pakistan initially took the lead through Ahmad Nadeem in the 8th minute.
However, Harmanpreet's precise drag-flicks in the 13th and 19th minutes turned the tide in favour of India.
This win marks India’s fifth consecutive triumph in the six-team round-robin competition and remains unbeaten so far.
Pakistan’s early advantage came from a well-executed move by Hannan Shahid, who split the Indian defence, setting up Nadeem for a straightforward finish. Despite the setback, India displayed resilience and composure, working patiently to build their attacks.
The Indians earned their first penalty corner in the 13th minute, which Harmanpreet converted with a powerful flick to the left of Pakistan’s goalkeeper Munneb. This was followed by another penalty corner in the 19th minute, where Harmanpreet struck again, giving India a 2-1 lead.
Pakistan had a chance to equalise shortly before half-time with a penalty corner, but Sufyan Khan’s flick hit the top of the bar, and the opportunity was lost.
The game continued with India maintaining possession and creating opportunities, including a third penalty corner in the 37th minute, but Pakistan's defence held firm.
In the final quarter, both teams launched relentless attacks, with India securing three more penalty corners. Despite the pressure, Pakistan’s defensive efforts kept the score unchanged.
The match also saw a heated moment when Pakistan’s Ashraf Waheed Rana was penalised with a yellow card after a contentious incident involving Indian player Jugraj Singh.
This victory extends India’s recent dominance over Pakistan, following a 10-2 win at the Hangzhou Asian Games and a 4-0 triumph in the Chennai edition of the ACT.
In the 2021 ACT, India had also defeated Pakistan 4-3 to clinch the bronze medal. The two teams have now both qualified for the semifinals of the tournament.
In other action, Malaysia and Korea played out a thrilling 3-3 draw in the earlier match of the day.
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