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Home > Sports News > Other Sports News > Article > Indian hockey team wins Asia Cup title after a decade

Indian hockey team wins Asia Cup title after a decade

Updated on: 23 October,2017 08:17 AM IST  |  Dhaka
Sundeep Misra | sports@mid-day.com

Men in Blue clinch Asia Cup crown after a decade with thrilling 2-1 win over Malaysia at Dhaka

Indian hockey team wins Asia Cup title after a decade

In a highly tense final, much of which was of their own making, India clinched the Asia Cup for the third time beating a fighting Malaysian side 2-1. India had beaten Malaysia 6-2 in the Super 4 stage, but most of that win was consigned to history after Malaysia started battling back after being 0-2 down. India could have easily closed the match in the third quarter as the forwards, especially Lalit Upadhyay, Akashdeep Singh and then Ramandeep Singh missed open opportunities.


Indian players celebrate a goal against Malaysia in the Asia Cup final at the Maulana Bhashani National hockey stadium in Dhaka yesterday
Indian players celebrate a goal against Malaysia in the Asia Cup final at the Maulana Bhashani National hockey stadium in Dhaka yesterday


Brilliant Indian defence
Once Malaysia struck back in the fourth quarter, it was largely how India would hold them off. And they did it with panache to win their third Asian title in three years – the 2014 Asian Games gold, the 2016 Asian Champions Trophy and now the Asia Cup. Indian coach Sjoerd Marijne seemed relieved. There were moments when he would have thought that they had let Malaysia back in the match. "I think the boys were extremely hungry to win the title. It showed in the last five minutes when we defended under extreme pressure and managed to keep the ball and defend the PC's also," he said.


Indian captain Manpreet was extremely happy. "We came here with the aim to win the Asia Cup. Nothing else would matter. I am happy that today we achieved that." India opened the scoring in the third minute off a cross that caught the Malaysians off guard but Ramandeep was at the goal mouth to tap it in. It could have opened the flood gates, but India missed a few and Malaysia did try and slow the pace down to counter the Indian strikers. Yet it was an even game in the second quarter where Malaysia also seized upon a few chances but couldn't finish it off. India even played with a sweeper in the form of Dipsan Tirkey and apart the scorers, Sumit had a wonderful match, defending and attacking along the flank.

Lalit misses an open chance
It would have been all over in the third quarter when Lalit had a gaping hole of a Malaysian goalmouth in front. But he shot it over in trying to overdo it. Ramandeep also fumbled with a cross while Akashdeep hesitated. In the end, Malaysia survived and struck in the 50th minute off a field effort by Saabah Shahril. Malaysia was now chasing and they had a few PC's which India defended. In the end, India kept them away and won the Asia Cup after a decade of winning it last in 2007.

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