KUANTAN: In-form drag-flick expert Rupinder Pal Singh continued to stamp his authority in the ongoing 4th Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament as he converted two penalty corners for top-ranked India to eke out a 2-1 win over Malaysia and secure the top spot in the round-robin stage here on Wednesday.

Rupinder, who had scored eight goals before this match, gave India the lead in the 12th minute but Razie Rahim equalised for Malaysia in the 18th minute with a drag flick of his own.

However, Rupinder once again stepped up to convert a penalty corner to make it 2-1 two minutes from the end.

India survived some anxious moments as hosts Malaysia posed a serious challenge and had their citadel under pressure in the second half and even got a penalty corner in the dying seconds, but the defenders held their ground.

With the win, Roelant Oltmans’ India have 13 points having played all the five games and now await the results of the last couple of games on Thursday to find out who they play in semi-final.

Malaysia remained in the second spot with nine points from four games while South Korea sealed a spot in the semi-finals following a 4-3 win over Japan, who lost five consecutive matches.

South Korea are third on the table with seven points from four matches, and take on Malaysia on Thursday when fourth-placed Pakistan face fifth-placed China.

Defending champions Pakistan have six points from four matches while the Chinese have three points.

Pakistan not only have three points more than China but the goal difference of -1 for the former world champions could come into play even if China, who have a goal difference of (-14), manage a win.

Published in Dawn October 27th, 2016