India beat Pakistan 3-2 in final to win Asian Champions Trophy

Pakistan failed to retain the champions title after losing against arch rivals India in the Final match of the Fourth Asian Hockey Championship 2016 today (Sunday) in the Malaysian city of Kuantan.

The match started at 05:30 pm on Pakistan Standard-Time (PST), 05:00 pm on Indian Standard-Times (IST) while 8:00pm on Malaysian Time.

India won the inaugural tournament in 2011 but finished runners-up to Pakistan in 2012. Pakistan defended their title in 2013.

India dominated the proceedings throughout the match but both teams failed to score in the first quarter and it ended 0-0. India got the chance to take the lead in the first quarter but Jasjit Singh failed to convert the penalty corner.

But Rupinder Pal Singh converted the second penalty corner in the 18th minute to send India into a 1-0 lead. Affan Yousuf then doubled the lead five minutes later when he deflected a Ramandeep Singh hit into the goal.

Pakistan pulled one back through Mohammad Aleem Bilal who converted a penalty corner just two minutes before the half-time. India went into the half time break leading 2-1.

India dominated again in the third quarter but a defensive error by Sardar Singh in the 38th minute gave Pakistan the opening and Ali Shan scored their second goal to tie the match 2-2.

India wasted a couple of chances in the fourth quarter to take the lead. It was Nikkin Thimmaiah’s goal in the 51st minute that gave India the 3-2 lead.

India held on to this till the end of the time to win the match 3-2 and the gold medal for the second time in the tournament.

Pakistan squad:

Goalkeepers: Imran Butt and Amjad Ali.

Defenders: Aleem Bilal, Mohammad Irfan (captain), Ammad Shakeel Butt.

Midfielders: Rashid Mahmood, Tasawar Abbas, Nawaz Ashfaq, Fareed Ahmad, Toseeq Arshad, Mohammad Rizwan Junior.

Forwards: Mohammad Irfan junior, Umar Bhutta, Arslan Qadir, Ali Shan, Ejaz Ahmad, Mohammad Rizwan senior, Abdul Haseem Khan.