समाचार Samāchār · Sports · 1 November 2026

Harmanpreet’s hat-trick beats Malaysia 4-2. India make it four from four

The captain scored from two penalty corners and a penalty stroke in Jalandhar. India lead the Asian Champions Trophy table with 12 points and play South Korea on Monday.

India won 4-2

India have won all four of their matches at the Asian Champions Trophy. The defending champions beat Malaysia 4-2 in Jalandhar on Sunday. Captain Harmanpreet Singh scored a hat-trick. This was the match between the two unbeaten sides, and India settled it in the second half.

Harmanpreet opened from a penalty corner in the third minute. Malaysia pressed hard with penalty corners in the second quarter. Akhimullah Anuar equalised in the 25th minute. It was 1-1 at half-time. Harmanpreet put India ahead again from another penalty corner in the 33rd minute. In the 43rd, Hardik Singh won the ball high up the pitch and set up Sukhjeet Singh, who reversed it into the roof of the net. Harmanpreet completed his hat-trick from a penalty stroke in the 58th. Shello Silverius scored for Malaysia in the final minute.

The run so far reads 13-0 against Bangladesh, 5-2 against China, 4-1 against Japan and now 4-2 against Malaysia. India have 12 points. Harmanpreet has eight goals. India, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan make up the semi-final four of this six-team event.

India close the league stage against South Korea on Monday. Malaysia play Japan. Malaysia were the first side to make India defend for long spells in this tournament. That is useful. The knockouts will bring more of it, and a team that has already been tested is better prepared than one that has only won easily.

What a founder takes from it: Three of India’s four goals came from set pieces. Set pieces win tight games because they are rehearsed until they are routine. Every company needs its own drag-flick: one process the team can run under pressure, every time, without a meeting.