All teams participating in the Asian Champions Trophy 2023 have played four matches each and the hosts India sit on top of the points table.
In today’s first match, Malaysia thumped Japan 3-1 in a one-sided encounter and qualified for the semi-finals.
In the second match, Pakistan beat China 2-1 and kept their semi-final hopes alive.
Pakistani boys showed great potential by tackling an early charge by China in the first quarter which remained goalless.
China found their feet back in the game after Jiesheng Gao scored at the start of the third quarter. He netted the ball in the 33rd minute to equal the scoreline.
Six minutes later, Afraz struck another goal for Pakistan, making the scoreline 2-1.
Thereafter, no other goal was scored till the end and Pakistan registered their first win in the tournament.
Meanwhile, in today’s last hockey match, India defeated Korea 3-2 and secured their place in the semi-finals.
Points table
Pakistan and India have won the Asian Champions Trophy thrice each, which makes them the most successful teams in the event.
Korea won the title in 2021 after beating Japan on penalties in the final in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
All six teams will each play five matches in the round-robin stage with the top four set to qualify for the semi-finals. The last four matches will be held on August 11, with the final on the next day.
Schedule of remaining matches
August 9 — Wednesday
Japan vs China
Malaysia vs Korea
India vs Pakistan
August 11 — Friday
Fifth place game – Fifth in group vs Sixth in group
Semi-final 1 – Second in group vs Third in group
Semi-final 2 – First in group vs Fourth in group
August 12 — Saturday
Third place game – Loser semi-final 1 vs Loser semi-final 2
Final – Winner semi-final 1 vs Winner semi-final 2
