India became the first team to win four Asian Champions Trophies after the hosts dramatically beat the first-time tournament finalists Malaysia by 4-3 in the final of the Hero Asian Champions Trophy Chennai 2023.
India finished the Hero Asian Champions Trophy Chennai 2023 as the only unbeaten side. In the Final, after taking a 1-0 lead in the first ten minutes, thanks to Jugraj Singh’s goal, the hosts India ended the first half by trailing 1-3.
Just before the third quarter hooter, Harmanpreet Singh and Gurjant Singh’s back-to-back goals helped the hosts to equalise the scoreline by 3-3. In the 56th minute, Akashdeep Singh scored the match-winning goal.
Indian captain Harmanpreet Singh finished the tournament as the leading goal-scorer with nine goals.
It was India’s fourth Asian Champions Trophy title, including one shared trophy with Pakistan in 2018. With the latest trophy, India surpassed Pakistan’s three Asian Champions Trophy titles (including one shared trophy with India in 2018) to become the first team to win it four times.
It was the first time India hosted the Asian Champions Trophy. Also, they became the first hosts to win the Asian Champions Trophy title.
Earlier in the day, Japan won the bronze medal match after beating South Korea by a 5-3 margin.
Brief match report: India vs Malaysia
Q1 (Final Scoreline): India 1 (Jugraj Singh 9’) — Malaysia 1 (Abu Kamal Azrai 14’)
While India earned the first penalty corner in the eighth minute, Jugraj Singh successfully utilized it with a 1-0 lead for the hosts.
One minute before the end of the first quarter, Malaysia equalised the scoreline with Abu Kamal Azrai’s field goal.
Q2 (Final Scoreline): India 1 — Malaysia 3 (Rahim Razie 18’; Muhamad Aminudin 28’)
Malaysia dominated the second quarter, where Rahim Razie and Muhamad Aminudin successfully utilized the penalty corners in the 18th minute and 28th minute, respectively.
At half-time, Malaysia were leading by 3-1.
Half-time
Q3 (Final Scoreline): India 3 (Harmanpreet Singh 45’; Gurjant Singh 45’) — Malaysia 3
The game situation completely changed dramatically in the final minute of the third quarter. At first, the skipper Harmanpreet Singh successfully scored a goal from a penalty stroke in the 45th minute.
A few seconds later, Gurjant Singh levelled the scoreline with a field goal.
Q4 (Final Scoreline): India 4 (Akashdeep Singh 56’) — Malaysia 3
Just four minutes before the full-time hooter, Akashdeep Singh scored the tournament-winning field goal for team India. The hosts held their nerve in the final moments as they snatched the Asian Champions Trophy with a dramatic 4-3 win against Malaysia.
