Kuantan, Nov 1: This Diwali the country has witnessed double celebration as India reclaims the Asian Champions Trophy hockey title 2016 after they beat Pakistan in the final which was played at Kuantan, Malaysia on Sunday.
India was able to register the hockey cup in its name by defeating Pakistan in 3-2 goals. Interestingly, for the first time in a continental tournament, the two teams played the final match in a similar way as in 2014 Asian Games Championship held in Incheon, South Korea, India had defeated Pakistan.
Before this in 2011, in the inaugural edition of the Asian Champions Trophy, India dad defeated Pakistan.
With the help of its heroes, Rupinder Pal Singh who stroked a goal in 18th minute, Yousuf Affan scored a goal in 23rd minute and Nikkin Thimmaiah who put a goal in 51st minute, India overpowered Pakistan in the tournament this year. From team Pakistan only two players, Muhammad Aleem Bilal and Ali Shan were able to kick goals in the 26th and 38th minute respectively.
India scored its first goal in the 18th minute with penalty-corner kick by Rupinder Pal.
With his 11th penalty corner, Rupinder also registered his name as the highest goal scorer by a big margin. India gifted another goal to Pakistan in the 23rd minute.
However, Pakistan hit its first goal by Muhammad Aleem Bilal in the 26th minute of the match, in a penalty-corner shot and Pakistan leveled the score with 2-2 in the 38th minute.
In 40th minute of the match, the goal shot by Kothajit Singh was disallowed by the video umpire as the shot kicked by him was from outside the circle which went into goal without a touch.
It was in the 51st minute that India kicked its winning shot when Sardar Singh passed the ball to Timmaiah, who shot a diagonal flick and beat the Pakistan goal-keeper Fareed Ahmed.
