In Asian Champions Trophy 2024 Harmanpreet Singh’s brace propels India to 2-1 win over Pakistan
In a nail-biting encounter against arch-rivals Pakistan in the 2024 Asian Champions Trophy India emerged victorious. This match held at the Moqi Hockey Training Base in Hulunbuir, China. Courtesy of two goals from captain Harmanpreet Singh, India secured a hard-fought 2-1 win, maintaining their unbeaten streak in the tournament.
The match began with high intensity, and it was Pakistan who struck first. In the opening quarter, Nadeem Shaheen combined brilliantly to take the ball into the Indian circle and delivered a sharp final touch to give Pakistan a 1-0 lead in the 7th minute. The early goal set the tone for what was expected to be a tightly contested battle between the two fierce rivals.
Just before the first quarter ended, India earned a penalty corner, and Harmanpreet Singh delivered a precise drag flick to level the score at 1-1.The final quarter saw India pressing forward to put the game beyond Pakistan’s reach, but they were unable to extend their lead. Pakistan, playing a man down after Ashraf was sent off, managed to defend against multiple Indian penalty corners. However, their efforts to level the score were thwarted by a resilient Indian side.
As the final whistle blew, India secured a well-deserved 2-1 victory over their long-time rivals. Harmanpreet Singh’s performance, particularly his brace, was the highlight of the match, as he led India to a crucial win. With this result, India finished their group stage campaign undefeated, heading confidently into the semifinals.
India’s dominance in the tournament has been evident, starting with commanding wins over China, Japan, Malaysia, and Korea.