India shrugged off the disappointment of an early setback to overpower Malaysia 4-1 in a crucial Super 4s encounter of the Men’s Asia Cup Hockey Tournament at the Rajgir Hockey Stadium on Thursday.
It was the hosts’ first win in the Super 4s stage after being held to a 2-2 draw by Korea on Wednesday, and it keeps their hopes alive of making the final. Malaysia struck in just the second minute through Shafiq Hassan, but India roared back with goals from Manpreet Singh (17’), Sukhjeet Singh (19’), Shilanand Lakra (24’), and Vivek Sagar Prasad (38’).
Skipper’s Rallying Call
India captain Harmanpreet Singh praised his team’s ability to keep composure after conceding early.
We win as a team. Even after conceding the first goal, we did not come under pressure. Our plan was clear — stick to our structure, and we knew the goals would come. Yesterday against Korea was a tough day, but today the team showed how to bounce back. Our forwards created opportunities and the defence worked superbly as a unit.
How the Match Unfolded
Hassan’s second-minute strike stunned the home crowd as Malaysia dominated possession in the early exchanges. The momentum shifted midway through the first quarter as India pressed forward, winning five consecutive penalty corners. While Malaysia initially held firm, India’s persistence paid off when Manpreet Singh struck from close range in the 17th minute to level scores.
Two minutes later, Sukhjeet Singh gave India the lead, before Shilanand Lakra deflected in Dilpreet Singh’s drive to make it 3-1 by the 24th minute. Early in the third quarter, goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak pulled off a vital penalty corner save, before Vivek Sagar Prasad extended the lead to 4-1 in the 38th minute. Malaysia pushed hard in the final stages, but India’s defence, marshalled by Harmanpreet Singh, held firm to secure a convincing win.
I am proud of the players’ performance. After yesterday’s draw, the team responded brilliantly. Conceding an early goal is never ideal, but the players showed great character to score four consecutive goals. We had done our homework on Malaysia, and today the players executed our patterns well. Our aim is to qualify [for the final], and for that our focus has to remain sharp.
What Lies Ahead
India will next face China on Saturday in another Super 4s Pool clash. China boosted their chances of a top-two finish with a 3-0 upset of Korea earlier in the day, while Bangladesh beat Kazakhstan 5-1 in a playoff match.
