Day four of the Hero Asian Champions Trophy 2024 at the Moqi Hockey Training Base in Hulunbuir, China, delivered thrilling action as Pakistan, Malaysia, and India earned crucial victories, boosting their chances for semifinal berths. With teams battling for a place in the knockout stages, the intensity on the field was palpable.
Pakistan’s Commanding Win Over China
Pakistan continued their impressive form with a dominant 5-1 victory over the host nation, China, climbing to second place in the standings. Ahmad Nadeem (36′, 56′) and Hannan Shahid (46′, 60′) each bagged two goals, leading Pakistan’s charge. Rehman Abdul (23′) opened the scoring for Pakistan, setting the tone for a solid performance.
Despite China’s early attacking attempts, Pakistan’s defense held firm. China’s Jiesheng Gao (48′) managed a late consolation goal, but Pakistan’s superior finishing sealed the win. Hannan Shahid, named Hero of the Match, attributed the success to teamwork: “It’s a collective effort. We’re improving with each match, and today we displayed discipline, conceding fewer cards.”
Malaysia Edges Japan in a Thriller
Malaysia rebounded from a tough loss to India by securing a thrilling 5-4 victory against Japan, pushing them to fourth in the points table. Syed Cholan (12’, 40’), Norsyafiq Sumantri (21’), Syarman Mat (47’), and Kamal Abu Azrai (48’) found the back of the net for Malaysia in a tightly contested match.
Japan, buoyed by their recent Sultan Azlan Shah Cup triumph, fought valiantly, with Ken Nagayoshi (24’, 28’) and Kazumasa Matsumoto (51’) keeping the pressure on. However, Malaysia’s defense stayed resilient. Hero of the Match, Aiman Rozemi, reflected on the team’s determination: “After our 1-8 loss to India, we knew we had to bounce back as a unit. Today’s win shows our fighting spirit.”
India Stays Unbeaten, Overcomes Korea
Defending champions India extended their unbeaten run with a solid 3-1 win over Korea, further solidifying their spot at the top of the table. Araijeet Singh Hundal (8’) opened the scoring, and skipper Harmanpreet Singh (9’, 43’) added two more, crossing the milestone of 200 international goals in the process.
Korea fought back with a goal from Jihun Yang (30’), but India’s defense, marshaled by Hero of the Match, goalkeeper Suraj Karkera, stood strong. Harmanpreet’s powerful drag flick in the third quarter put the game beyond Korea’s reach, despite their persistent efforts to claw back.
Semifinal Race Intensifies
With just one day remaining in the league stage, India sits atop the table, followed by Pakistan, Korea, and Malaysia. As the teams prepare for their final pool-stage matches, the battle for semifinal spots is heating up, promising more exciting action in the Hero Asian Champions Trophy 2024.
Stay tuned for more high-octane hockey as the tournament progresses toward the semifinals!
