It is true that with each passing match, India has firmly established themselves as the leading contender to defend their title and secure a record-extending fifth Asian Champions Trophy. So far, the Indians have shown nothing but dominance in the tournament’s initial matches with commanding victories of 3-0 against China and 5-1 against Japan.
As per the ranking of men’s hockey, India is expected to achieve a similar decisive win against Malaysia on Wednesday. However, recent matches between the two teams suggest this match may not be a cakewalk.
The most recent match between India and Malaysia was in the final of the Asian Champions Trophy in 2023. Trailing 3-1 at halftime, India pulled off an incredible comeback to eventually win the match 4-3. Prior to that, they beat Malaysia 4-2 in an action-packed encounter at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup.
This victory came after an upsetting performance of India: losing to Malaysia in the semi-final of the 2018 Asian Games. The match was 2-2 tied, and India, being the gold favorites, lost 7-6 in a penalty shootout. They had to settle for bronze, which was highly disappointing for their top ranking.
The recent meetings have been thrilling, with this rivalry growing with each one, but it needs to be remembered that this is a two-time Olympic medal-winning team coming up against the Indians. Keeping that in mind, the Indian contingent will hope all the challenges of the past are left behind as they seek the win handsomely against Malaysia.
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