Chandigarh/Jalandhar: The ongoing Asian Champions Trophy, an international hockey tournament being hosted on Punjab soil for the first time, has crossed the halfway entering in final phase. Each team has already played three league matches thus two matches remaining for each team. The remaining league fixtures will be played on November 1 and 2 while India and Malaysia have secured its places in the semi-finals after winning three matches each. On the individual goal-scoring tally, Indian captain Harmanpreet Singh was leading with five goals.
The event is the result of the concerted efforts of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, whose vision has brought top-tier Asian hockey to the state. Dream come true for Indian hockey players who have long wished to play an international competition on home soil.
Saturday was a rest day for all teams in the Asian Champions Trophy, as no match would be played. However, the China, South Korea and Bangladesh teams held practice sessions. In the closing days of the league stage, the matches will take place at 2:30 PM, 4:45 PM, and 7:00 PM respectively. On November 1, South Korea would play with Bangladesh whereas another match is to be held between China and Japan, and India will take on Malaysia followed by November 2 matches between China and Bangladesh, Malaysia and Japan while India would play against South Korea. The matches would be played at 2:30 pm, 4:45 pm and 07:00 pm respectively.
In the individual goal-scoring standings, Indian captain Harmanpreet Singh was at the top tally with five goals in three matches followed by Malaysia’s Abu Kamal Azrai with four goals. India’s Mandeep Singh and Abhishek, along with Malaysia’s Akhimullah and Azimuddin, have scored three goals each.
