India Won Asian Champions Trophy, 2023 by Defeating Malaysia in a Thrilling Final Match

On Saturday, during the ACT Final match, India produced a remarkable turnaround to recover from a two-goal disadvantage and secure a 4-3 victory, cementing their status as the most accomplished team in the competition's history.

 

The thrilling match began with Malaysia initially setting the pace in the tense final, but India's Akashdeep swiftly intercepted the ball to launch a counterattack. Malaysia's Azrai tried to advance from the left, but Harmanpreet's strong defense stopped him. Vivek Prasad played a vital role by intercepting Saari's circle entry, leading to a crucial counter from the right flank. Selvam Karthi's foul earned India a penalty corner. Jugraj capitalized on the opportunity, firing a powerful drag flick past Malaysia's goalie for India's first goal in the ninth minute.

 

Arzai swiftly equalized after Hasan's deflected pass, leveling the score at 1-1 by the end of the first quarter. Malaysia dominated the second period, utilizing penalty corners to their advantage.

 

During the second quarter, Malaysia gained momentum, capitalizing on Indian defensive weaknesses. They secured a 2-0 lead through goals from four penalty corners. Razie Rahim scored in the 18th minute, and Aminudin Muhamad's drag-flick added another in the 43rd minute.

 

In the third quarter, India aggressively pursued a comeback. Despite intense pressure, Malaysia resisted until the final moment when a failed penalty corner conversion led to a strong Indian counterattack. Malaysia held firm, denying India a significant scoring chance. Sukhjeet Singh's impressive run drew a foul from a Malaysian defender, giving India a penalty opportunity. Captain Harmanpreet Singh narrowed the gap by expertly netting the ball. Harmanpreet Singh remained pivotal, initiating India's late equalizing effort by delivering a precise pass to Karthi Selvam inside the circle. Gurjant Singh capitalized on Sukhjeet Singh and Karthi Selvam's teamwork to level the score.

 

Malaysia shifted their approach in the final quarter, launching attacks from the defensive end. However, India turned the tables when Akashdeep Singh netted the winning goal in the 56th minute.Malaysia had 10 players for the final four minutes due to Hasan Azuan's five-minute ban.

 

India tried to build on their lead, but the match ended 4-3 in India's favor.

 

Indian men's hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh stated after India defeated Malaysia (4-3) to secure the Asian Champions Trophy, that they had determined that their game shouldn't change, whether they were leading or trailing by 100 goals, and emphasized the importance of remaining mentally strong. He further added that before the match, they had decided to maintain their mental strength, and consequently it was noted that the team performed exceptionally.

 

Union Minister for I&B and Youth Affairs & Sports, witnessed the commendable win live in Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium, Chennai. He then took to X, and stated,

 

"🏑Kudos to #TeamIndia for clinching the Asian Championship trophy for the 4th.

 

Every dribble, every goal, every moment showcased the spirit of our nation. Proud of our hockey warriors!

 

🏆 A stellar performance against Malaysia that made the nation beam with pride.

 

Hockey-tastic! 🇮🇳✨"

 

PM Modi also took to Twitter and congratulated the team for their win. He extended congratulations to the Men's Hockey Team for their stunning victory in the Asian Championship. PM highlighted that it was India's fourth win, demonstrating the players' unwavering dedication, rigorous training, and strong determination. The exceptional performance was noted to have sparked intense national pride. He also conveyed their best wishes to the players for their future pursuits.

 

Chief coach Craig Fulton stated that it felt good to be a champion. He added that the match was fantastic, not easy, and everyone enjoyed the game.

 

The supporters were also ecstatic after India's victory over Malaysia in the ACT Hockey Tournament.

 

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