India have secured a place in the semi-finals of the Hero Asian Champions Trophy 2026 after a 4-2 win over Malaysia. The match took place at the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar, Punjab, on Sunday, November 1. Indian captain Harmanpreet Singh was the star of the match as he scored three goals to help his team earn its fourth straight win in the tournament.
With this result, India have kept their perfect record in the six-team event. Japan, Malaysia and South Korea have also secured their places in the last four. One round of league matches remains, but the four semi-finalists are now clear.
Harmanpreet Singh Leads India to Victory
Captain Harmanpreet Singh played a key role in India’s win over Malaysia. He scored in the third, 33rd and 58th minutes to complete his hat-trick. Two of his goals came from penalty corners, while his third came from a penalty stroke.
His first goal gave India an early lead in the third minute. The captain showed great skill as he sent the ball past the Malaysian goalkeeper. India had a good start, but Malaysia did not take long to fight back.
The visitors found the equaliser in the 25th minute through Akhimullah Anuar. A gap in the Indian defence gave him the chance to score, and he made full use of it. The goal brought the score to 1-1 and put more pressure on the home side.
India needed a strong response after the break. Harmanpreet once again stepped up for his team. He scored his second goal in the 33rd minute through a penalty corner and helped India take a 2-1 lead.
Sukhjeet Singh Adds the Third Goal
India got another goal in the 43rd minute through Sukhjeet Singh. His field goal gave the hosts a 3-1 lead and put them in a much better position.
The Indian side had more control of the match after that goal. Malaysia tried to reduce the gap, but the home defence did not give them many easy chances.
India continued to put pressure on their rivals. A penalty corner later led to a penalty stroke after the ball hit a Malaysian player on the goal line. Harmanpreet took the chance and sent the ball into the net in the 58th minute.
That goal made the score 4-1 and gave India a clear advantage. Malaysia did score once more through Shello Silverius in the 60th minute, but it was too late to change the result.
India won the match 4-2 and added another important victory to their record.
India Continue Their Perfect Run
The win over Malaysia was India’s fourth straight victory in the tournament. The team had a strong start to its campaign with a 13-0 win over Bangladesh on October 27.
India then beat China 5-2 on October 29. The team also defeated Japan 4-1 on October 30. These results helped India stay at the top of the points table.
The win over Malaysia took India’s points total to 12 from four matches. The team also had a goal difference of +21, with 26 goals scored and only five conceded at that stage.
India have shown good form in both attack and defence. The players have created several chances and have also made sure that rival teams do not get easy goals. Harmanpreet has been at the heart of this strong run, as his goals have helped India win key matches.
Japan, Malaysia and South Korea Also Reach the Last Four
India are not the only team through to the semi-finals. Japan, Malaysia and South Korea have also secured their places in the next stage of the event.
Malaysia had a strong start to the tournament and won its first three matches. However, the 4-2 defeat to India ended its perfect record. The team still has enough points to secure a place in the last four.
Japan also earned a semi-final spot after a 2-2 draw with China. The result gave Japan an important point and helped the team move ahead in the race for the next stage.
South Korea also confirmed its place in the semi-finals after a clear 5-0 win over Bangladesh. The result gave the team its second win of the tournament.
China and Bangladesh, on the other hand, failed to reach the last four. Both teams had a tough time in the league stage and could not collect enough points to secure a semi-final spot.
India Face South Korea in Their Final League Match
India will face South Korea in their last league match on Monday, November 2. The match is set for 7:00 PM IST at the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar.
Although India have already secured a place in the semi-finals, this match remains important. A win will help the team keep its perfect record and carry strong form into the next stage.
South Korea will also aim for a good result before the semi-finals. The team has shown that it can play well against strong rivals, so India cannot afford to take this match lightly.
The other key match of the day will see Malaysia face Japan at 4:45 PM IST. China will play Bangladesh at 2:30 PM IST. These matches will help decide the final order of the teams before the semi-finals.
India Aim for Another Asian Champions Trophy Title
India are the defending champions and will hope to retain their title this year. The team has a strong record in Asian hockey and remains one of the top sides in the continent.
The recent win over Malaysia has also added to India’s confidence. The two teams met in the Asian Games 2026 final, where India won 5-1 to claim the gold medal. The latest 4-2 result is another sign of India’s strength against a tough rival.
Coach Craig Fulton has praised the team’s form but has also said that the players must make better use of their chances. He noted that India could have scored more goals in the match against Malaysia.
The coach also spoke about the absence of forward Abhishek, who hurt his ankle during the warm-up before the match. His absence affected the team’s balance, as India had to play with 15 players.
Even with this setback, the team found a way to earn all three points. Harmanpreet’s hat-trick and Sukhjeet’s goal gave India the result they wanted.
What Lies Ahead for Team India?
India have made a strong start to their title defence and have already secured a place in the semi-finals. Four wins from four matches show how well the team has played so far.
The next task will be to carry this form into the knockout stage. The semi-finals will take place on November 4 in Mohali, Punjab, while the tournament will end on November 5.
India will hope that Harmanpreet Singh can continue his fine form and that the rest of the team can also play its part. A strong defence, better use of penalty corners and good teamwork will be key in the next stage.
For now, the 4-2 win over Malaysia has given Indian fans plenty of reasons to feel happy. The hosts remain unbeaten, have reached the last four and are still on course for another Asian Champions Trophy title.
