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India continued its dominant run in the Asian Champions Trophy 2026 with a fourth consecutive victory. The Indian men's hockey team defeated Malaysia 4-2 in its fourth match to book a place in the semifinals. Captain Harmanpreet Singh stole the spotlight with a brilliant hat-trick, helping India maintain its unbeaten record in the tournament.
The exciting match took place on Sunday, November 1, at the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar. With this victory, India strengthened its position in the tournament and joined Malaysia, Japan and South Korea in the semifinal lineup.
India vs Malaysia: Harmanpreet Singh's Hat-Trick Powers India to Victory
Indian captain Harmanpreet Singh delivered a match-winning performance against Malaysia. He scored three goals in the 3rd, 33rd and 58th minutes to complete his hat-trick.
Harmanpreet scored twice through penalty corners, while his third goal came from a penalty stroke. Sukhjeet Singh also played an important role by scoring India's fourth goal in the 43rd minute.
For Malaysia, Akhimullah Anuar scored in the 25th minute, while Shello Silverius found the net in the 60th minute. Despite their efforts, Malaysia could not overcome India's attacking strength and suffered a 4-2 defeat.
India vs Malaysia Hockey Match: Check All Goals and Key Highlights
India started the match on a positive note, with Harmanpreet Singh scoring in the third minute to give his team a 1-0 lead.
Malaysia bounced back in the second quarter as Akhimullah Anuar scored the equaliser in the 25th minute. However, India regained the lead in the third quarter when Harmanpreet converted another opportunity in the 33rd minute.
Sukhjeet Singh increased India's advantage with a goal in the 43rd minute, making the score 3-1. In the final quarter, Harmanpreet completed his hat-trick in the 58th minute.
Malaysia scored once more through Shello Silverius in the 60th minute, but India comfortably secured a 4-2 victory.
Asian Champions Trophy 2026: Malaysia Also Qualifies for Semifinals
Despite losing to India, Malaysia has also qualified for the semifinals of the tournament. The Malaysian team had won its first three matches, which helped it secure enough points to advance to the next stage.
India, Malaysia, Japan and South Korea are the four teams that have confirmed their semifinal spots in the 2026 Asian Champions Trophy.
India vs South Korea: When Will India's Next Hockey Match Be Played?
After defeating Malaysia, India will face South Korea on Monday, November 2, in its next round-robin match.
The Indian team will look to continue its winning streak and finish the group stage on a strong note. Meanwhile, Japan will take on Malaysia on the same day.
Both matches will be important as the teams prepare for the upcoming semifinal matches.
India Maintain Winning Streak: Can Harmanpreet Singh Lead the Team to the Title?
India has looked impressive throughout the tournament, winning all four of its matches so far. Harmanpreet Singh's leadership and goal-scoring form have been major positives for the team.
With a semifinal place already secured, India will now aim to carry this momentum into the knockout stage. The team will be eager to reach the final and compete for the 2026 Asian Champions Trophy title.
Also Read: India Beat Japan 4-1 to Reach Hockey Champions Trophy Semi Final
