In a thrilling encounter at the Asian Champions Trophy on Saturday, India narrowly defeated Pakistan 2-1, with captain Harmanpreet Singh proving to be the decisive force through two penalty corner goals.
According to the Times of India (TOI), Pakistan took an early advantage when Ahmad Nadeem found the net in the seventh minute of the first quarter. However, India responded robustly, with Singh scoring both of India’s goals via penalty corners in the 13th and 19th minutes. Despite a valiant effort, Pakistan was unable to level the score, and the match ended with India holding their 2-1 lead.
The International Hockey Federation (FIH) reports that India remains undefeated at the top of the table with 15 points. In contrast, Pakistan, having suffered their first loss of the tournament, sits in second place with seven points less.
Both teams have secured their spots in the semifinals, having completed their league matches. Pakistan’s journey to the semifinals included a resounding 5-1 victory over hosts China at the Moqi Hockey Training Base on Thursday. Nadeem Ahmed and Hannan Shahid each scored twice, with Abdul Rehman contributing an additional goal, showcasing Pakistan’s attacking prowess.
This victory marked Pakistan’s second win in the tournament, following a 2-1 triumph over Japan in their previous match on Wednesday. Captain Ammad Shakeel Butt has been instrumental in leading the team, emphasizing their strong defensive and offensive play.
As the tournament progresses to the semifinals, all eyes will be on these two formidable teams as they aim for glory.
