Harmanpreet Singh may have faced flak for missing penalty corners by the dozen but come crunch time, the India men’s hockey team captain stood up and delivered for a 4-0 victory against Pakistan in the Asian Champions Trophy at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium in Chennai on Wednesday.
The result keeps India unbeaten on the top of the points table, and also knocks the opponents out of the semifinals, dropping them to the fifth spot. They were level with Korea and Japan on five points, but with an inferior goal difference.
India earned five penalty corners and converted three — two by Harmanpreet and one by Jugraj — with a brilliant exchange by Mandeep Singh and Akashdeep Singh resulting in the latter slotting in the final goal five minutes from time. It has also extended India’s unbeaten streak against the arch-rival to 15 games.
