Hulunbuir, China – India continued its dominant run in the Asian Champions Trophy, defeating Malaysia 8-1 on Wednesday, securing a semi-final spot. This victory marked India’s third consecutive win in the tournament.
Raj Kumar Pal led India’s charge, scoring a hat-trick with goals in the 3rd, 25th, and 33rd minutes. Arijeet Singh Hundal added two goals in the 6th and 39th minutes. Other goals came from Jugraj Singh in the 7th minute, Harmanpreet Singh in the 22nd minute, and Uttam Singh in the 40th minute.
Malaysia’s only goal was scored by Akhimullah Anuwar in the 34th minute. With this win, India now sits at the top of the table with nine points, emerging as a leading contender for the semi-finals, scheduled for September 16. The final will be played on September 17.
India started the tournament with a commanding 3-0 win against China, followed by a 5-1 triumph over Japan. So far, the Indian team has netted 16 goals in three matches, 11 of which were field goals. This strong performance has positioned them as a top contender for the title.
India’s next matches will further test its dominance in this six-team round-robin tournament, where the top four teams will qualify for the semi-finals.
Key players like Raj Kumar Pal and Arijeet Singh Hundal are showing their scoring prowess, and India’s consistent attacking game is proving to be a major force in the competition.
