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In a thrilling encounter at the Asian Champions Trophy 2024, India secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory against arch-rivals Pakistan, maintaining their impressive eight-year unbeaten streak against the Green Shirts. The match, held at the Moqi Hockey Training Base in Hulunbuir, China, showcased the skill and determination of the Indian team, led by captain Harmanpreet Singh, who scored both goals for his side.
In a thrilling encounter at the Asian Champions Trophy 2024, India secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory against arch-rivals Pakistan, maintaining their impressive eight-year unbeaten streak against the Green Shirts. The match, held at the Moqi Hockey Training Base in Hulunbuir, China, showcased the skill and determination of the Indian team, led by captain Harmanpreet Singh, who scored both goals for his side.
The game began with a surprising turn as Pakistan took an early lead in the 8th minute through Ahmad Nadeem, who capitalized on a brilliant setup by Hannan Shahid. Nadeem’s goal put India on the back foot, but the Men in Blue quickly regrouped. Just five minutes later, Harmanpreet converted a penalty corner, leveling the score at 1-1. His second goal came shortly after, again from a penalty corner, giving India a 2-1 lead by the 19th minute.
Despite the scoreline, the match was not without its challenges for India. The team struggled to maintain their usual attacking intensity and failed to capitalize on several opportunities to extend their lead. Nevertheless, their defense held strong, and they managed to keep Pakistan at bay, despite some tense moments in the final quarter.
As the match progressed, tempers flared, particularly after a controversial tackle by Pakistan’s Ashraf Waheed Rana on India’s Jugraj Singh, which resulted in a yellow card for Rana. This incident heightened the rivalry on the field, but ultimately, India remained composed and focused on securing the win.
With this victory, India finished the league stage of the tournament with a perfect record, winning all five of their matches. Pakistan, despite the loss, also qualified for the semifinals, having secured two wins and two draws in their previous outings. Both teams will now look forward to the knockout stages, with India emerging as strong contenders to defend their title.
Historically, India has dominated this rivalry, having not lost to Pakistan since the 2016 South Asian Games final. This latest victory marks India’s 15th win in 17 encounters against Pakistan, with only two matches ending in draws. As the tournament progresses, the anticipation builds for what promises to be an exciting semifinal matchup, with both teams eager to assert their dominance on the Asian hockey stage.
