In a dominant performance, the Indian men's hockey team defeated Malaysia 4-1 in their second Super 4 stage match of the Asia Cup 2025 in Rajgir on September 4, Thursday. The goals for India were scored by Manpreet Singh in the 17th minute, Sukhjeet Singh in the 19th, Shilanand Lakra in the 24th, and Vivek Sagar Prasad in the 38th.
India script comeback 4-1 win over Malaysia
After playing a 2-2 stalemate against defending champions South Korea earlier on September 3, The hosts initially fell behind to an early goal from Shafiq Hassan but quickly regrouped. They came back with force in the second quarter, netting three goals to take a decisive 3-1 lead by halftime. This scoring spree was courtesy of goals from Manpreet Singh, Sukhjeet Singh, and Shilanand Lakra.
The momentum continued for India into the third quarter, with Vivek Sagar Prasad adding another goal to extend their lead. The Men in Blue maintained the pressure throughout the final quarter, preventing any comeback from Malaysia and ultimately securing a well-deserved 4-1 win.
Following the matches on Thursday, all four teams in the Super 4 stage of the men's Asia Cup hockey tournament have now played two games. India is currently at the top of the pool with four points. They are followed by China, who have three points after a dominant win against South Korea. Malaysia also has three points, while South Korea is at the bottom of the table with only one point from their two matches.
Looking ahead, the top two teams from this stage will advance to the final. India will play their final Super 4 match against China on Saturday, the same day South Korea will face Malaysia. To secure a spot in the final, India needs to avoid a defeat against China. A win or a draw will guarantee their place. Even a loss by a margin of less than two goals would be enough for India to qualify, provided the match between South Korea and Malaysia ends in a draw.