Asian Champions Trophy: India defeats Pakistan 2-1

HULUNBUIR: In a fiery match between arch-rivals India and Pakistan at the Asian Champions Trophy 2024, the Men in Blue defeated the Green Shirts with a score of 2-1 on Saturday.

The contest unfolded at the Moqi Hockey Training base, where Indian captain Harmanpreet Singh showed off his skills by scoring both goals for his team.

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Pakistan initially surprised the defending champions by taking an early lead in the first quarter, thanks to a goal by Ahmed Nadeem. However, India quickly bounced, with Harmanpreet converting a penalty corner shortly after.

He later secured the match-deciding goal from another set piece.

The victory marked India’s fifth straight win in the tournament, shooting their position to the top of the table with 15 points.

The match was marked by a fierce competition, with the rivaling neighbours displaying flashes of brilliance. Despite early advantage however, the Green Shirt struggled to maintain the momentum from the first quarter.

Pakistan suffered its first loss of the tournament, and now holding the second place with 8 points, with two wins and two draws.

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Despite the loss, Pakistan has secured a place in the semifinals. Both arch-rivals now await the result of China vs Japan that will determine the remaining semifinalists.

The stakes are high as India aims to defend its title, having claimed a fourth record championship win in 2023. Meanwhile, Pakistan seeks to reclaim its 20^th century glory, having won the tournament three times.