India finished the round robin stages of the Asian Champions Trophy with a 2-1 win when they took on Malaysia in Kuantan. The 2011 champions India defied both the Malaysian side which had won all three of its matches and the crowd support as well. Rupinder Pal Singh continued his sublime touch from the penalty corners to score a goal in the first quarter and Malaysia pulled one back with Razie
Rahim in the second quarter to bring parity at the break. Into the final quarter, India were reduced to ten men after Surender Kumar was yellow carded with 11 minutes to be played. This gave Malaysia the chance to create pressure on the Indian goal and they did with three penalty corners to their name but none were converted with goalkeeper Akash Chikte producing a sublime game to defy the hosts on numerous instances.
But with three minutes to be played, India got a penalty corner of their own and Rupinder was again on hand to give India the goal and a win.
Malaysia had another chance with a minute to be played but that was parried away by Chikte to help India win the contest and finish the group stages with yet another win. This one wasn’t a dominant one as the 10-2 and 9-0 earlier but it highlighted India’s resolve when put under pressure.
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