Hockey: India suffer 3-5 loss to Malaysia, play Pakistan in final

Already through to the final, defending champions India suffered a shock 3-5 defeat at the hands of Malaysia in their last and inconsequential league match of the Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament here today.

India will take on arch-rivals Pakistan in the summit clash tomorrow after the latter defeated Japan 5-2 in another roun-robin league match earlier in the day.

India had defeated Pakistan 4-2 via penalty shootout in the inaugural edition in Ordos, China last year after both sides were locked goaless in the regulation time of the final match.

Malaysia needed to beat India with a six plus goal margin to qualify for the final and they were cruising along with 4-0 lead in the 38th minute.

But, India doused the Malaysian fire late in the game with three goals, denying them a big-margin victory required to make it to the final.

Malaysia took the lead after missing out two penalty corners earlier. Following the abortive second penalty corner, the Malaysians made use of a long corner to go up (1-0).

Within a minute, Abdullah Shahrun Nabil enlarged the lead. Young forward Fitri stunned Indian goalie PR Sreejesh with a reverse hit to enhance the lead to three nil in the 27th minute.

India earned their first penalty corner in the 32nd minute, but vice-captain V R Raghunath could not make any difference to the scoreboard. India also wasted two more penalty corners in the first half.

Fitri again struck in the 27th minute (3-0), giving Malaysia much hope at lemon time.

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