Harmanpreet hat-trick gives India 4-2 win over Malaysia at Asian Champions Trophy in Jalandhar
India captain Harmanpreet Singh scored a hat-trick as the Indian men’s hockey team beat Malaysia 4-2 at the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar on Sunday in the Men’s Hockey Asian Champions Trophy 2026; Harmanpreet was named Player of the Match. Sukhjeet Singh also scored for India, while Akhimullah Anuar and Shello Silverius replied for Malaysia.
The match was a repeat of the Asian Games 2026 gold-medal final, where India defeated Malaysia 5-1 to successfully defend that title, and both sides had entered Sunday’s fixture unbeaten after winning their first three matches in Jalandhar. India were playing as hosts and are described in coverage as the two-time defending champions; the team is also referred to as a five-time winner in tournament commentary. With victory on Sunday India extended their run of wins in the round-robin stage.
India started the game strongly, winning a penalty corner in the third minute that Harmanpreet converted via a variation involving Jugraj Singh to put the hosts ahead. Malaysia mounted attacks in response, but Aditya Arjun Lalage intercepted a pass intended for Anuar, and Hardik Singh produced a notable run past Shafiq Hassan that led to chances Mandeep Singh and Sukhjeet failed to finish.
The second quarter saw Malaysia apply pressure and win a penalty corner in the 18th minute after Fitri Saari was fouled by Harmanpreet; Rajinder blocked Azimuddin Kamaruddin’s initial attempt and goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak saved the subsequent shot. India earned a penalty corner in the 21st minute after Aditya was brought down, with Aminul Azhar blocking the initial play and Harmanpreet’s re-award striking the crossbar. Malaysia then won a sequence of penalty corners, during which Amit Rohidas made two important blocks as first rusher before Pathak made a save, and Akhimullah Anuar converted from a penalty corner in the 25th minute to level the score at half-time.
India regained the lead in the 33rd minute when Harmanpreet converted another penalty corner, and the match shifted further in India’s favour after Faiz Jali received a 10-minute yellow card in the 38th minute for charging into Mandeep from behind. India, who had already qualified for the semi-finals, capitalised on the numerical advantage when Sukhjeet extended the lead in the 43rd minute, finishing with a backhand after an incisive pass from Hardik.
In the final quarter Malaysia began with an attacking attempt that went wide and briefly enjoyed a numerical edge when Harmanpreet received a yellow card in the 48th minute, but they failed to convert during that five-minute spell. India were awarded a penalty stroke in the 58th minute after the ball struck Marhan’s foot on the goal-line; Harmanpreet sent a powerful shot high to the right of the goalkeeper to complete his hat-trick. Malaysia were reduced to 10 players again when Amirul Azahar received a yellow card, and Shello Silverius scored a late consolation in the 60th minute after a combination involving Aiman Rozemi and Marhan.
After the match Harmanpreet, speaking of India’s objective in the tournament, said: “We are here for gold…Our only target is to win at home…All the youngsters coming in are doing well.” He added: “The energy from the crowd is infectious. Keep supporting us. Thank you, everyone.”
India now lead the points table with 12 points from four matches and a goal difference of +21, with Malaysia second on nine points and a goal difference of +6; Japan sit third on seven points and South Korea fourth on six, and all four have qualified for the semi-finals. China have one point and Bangladesh remain without a point and are out of the title race; Harmanpreet leads the tournament scoring chart with eight goals. India require a draw in their final round-robin match to secure first place in the standings and will face South Korea on Monday, 2 November, at 1900 hrs IST.