Rajkumar Pal registers hat-trick ito script n defending champion’s third win

A sensational hat-trick by experienced mid-fielder Rajkumar Pal enabled the Indian Men's Hockey Team crush Malaysia by an 8-1 margin in their third round robin league match of the ongoing Hero Asian Champions Trophy being held at Moqi Hockey Training Base in Hulun Buir, China on Wednesday.

Besides Rajkumar (3', 25', 33'), young forward Araijeet Singh Hundal (6', 39') scored a brace while  Jugraj Singh (7'), Captain Harmanpreet Singh (22') and Uttam Singh (40') also contributed a goal each to India's third consecutive win of the tournament. For last year’s runner-up Malaysia, Akhimullah Anuar (34') scored the lone goal.

With this win, Craig Fulton's coached team. have consolidated their lead at the top of the points table, with nine points in three matches and booked a place in the semi-final of the six-team tournament whose semi- finals is scheduled on 16 September, followed by the final on 17 September.

Expressing his delight over India's third consecutive win,Hero of the Match, Arajieet Singh Hundalsaid, "We want to go all through in every game, we have to win every game, that is what we plan in team meetings. We are here to win. Personally, the last two games were not up to mark, but I'm really happy that I scored today. I am getting my confidence back day by day, and I will do much better for India in the upcoming games."

Reigning champions India earlier had defeated host China 3-0 in the tournament opener with Sukhjeet Singh (14‘), Uttam Singh (27‘) and Abhishek (32‘) sounding the board for the Harmanpreet led side. Notably, Gurjot Singh made his debut for the Indian Men’s Hockey Team in this match against China.

India latter got the better of Japan 5-1 Sukhjeet Singh (2', 60') scored a double in India's win while Abhishek (3'), Sanjay (17') and Uttam Singh (54') scored a goal each for the winners while Kazumasa Matsumoto (41') scored the lone goal for Japan.  The Paris 2024 Olympics Bronze-medallist India will next take on the nippy Korea who early edged past spirited China 3-2. Four times champions India will finishing its league engagements against arch-rival Pakistan this weekend. Pakistan earlier overcame a stubborn Japan 2-1 to register their first victory in the tourney to occupy the second place in the league table five points behind India.

Result (Round-Robin 3rd League Matches):  

India 8 (Rajkumar Pal 3, Araijeet Singh Hundal 2, Jugraj Singh 1, Harmanpreet Singh 1, Uttam Singh 1) beat Malaysia 1 (Akhimullah Anuar 1). (HT 5-1).

Pakistan 2 (Ahmad Nadeem 1, Sufyan Khan 1) beat Japan 1 (Raiki Fujishima 1). (HT 2-1).

Korea 3 (Hyeonhong Kim 1, Yoonho Kong 1, Jung Hoo Kim 1) beat China 2 (Jiesheng Gao 1, Ziyang Huang 1). (HT 1--1).