The Indian hockey staff got here out all weapons blazing towards Pakistan in an Asian Champions Trophy hockey match Chennai on Wednesday. Harmanpreet Singh scored two targets whereas Jugraj Singh and Akashdeep Singh struck a objective apiece as India romped house with a 4-0 win towards the arch-rivals. Attending the match in Chennai was Indian cricket staff star spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.

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Coming to the match, Harmanpreet netted a brace whereas Jugraj Singh and Akashdeep Singh struck one objective every to assist India defeat Pakistan 4-0 on the Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium in Chennai. The win ensured India completed on the high of the Asian Champions Trophy 2023 factors desk with 13 factors from 5 matches. Pakistan, ranked sixteenth on the earth, tried to get off to an excellent begin and almost did so three minutes in. They wanted to keep away from a loss by two targets or extra to advance to the semifinals. After displaying some deft stickwork on the wings, Aqeel Ahmad fired a phenomenal cross to an approaching Abdul Hannan.

Krishan Bahadur Pathak of the Indian hockey staff made a spectacular save, however Hannan was in a position to bundle within the rebound. The guests’ pleasure was lower brief, nonetheless, after a assessment revealed that the ball had come off the Pakistani participant’s physique.

The objective was known as off, however Pakistan was granted a penalty nook as an alternative. Pakistan’s hockey staff got here near scoring once more, however Pathak stopped them.

India made use of their alternatives to assault rapidly whereas Pakistan tried to press onerous, and one such break netted the hosts their second penalty nook. Harmanpreet took the chance to attain the second objective with a strong drag flick previous Hussain’s legs.

When the Indian hockey staff had a snug two-goal lead, they had been in a position to play extra freely and earn back-to-back penalty corners proper earlier than the halftime whistle. Harmanpreet was solely narrowly in a position to be saved out by the Pakistani rushers with a purpose to forestall further hurt.

After the restart, Pakistan, the three-time winner of the Asian Champions Trophy, tried to placed on strain to safe a berth within the semi-finals, however this additionally left openings for India to reap the benefits of.

This time, Jugraj Singh transformed a penalty nook to attain the third objective for the house staff, giving him his first objective towards Pakistan.

India took benefit of Pakistan’s determined and gung-ho efforts to maintain their desires of creating the semifinals alive after falling behind 3-0. India typically exploited Pakistan’s inexperienced defence on the counter. India tried a number of circle penetrations, however they had been unable to take the lead within the third interval.

Akashde Singh lastly made the rating 4-0 within the fourth quarter after quite a few missed alternatives, receiving the tiniest of touches to Mandeep’s cross to seal a convincing victory.

With ANI inputs