India vs Malaysia Hockey Live ScoreIndia (IND) vs Malaysia (MAS), Hockey Super 4s Asia Cup 2025 Highlights: India came back from a goal down and to comfortably cross the finish line, defeating Malaysia 4-1, in their second Super 4s game at the Rajgir Hockey Stadium, in the Men’s Asia Cup encounter on Thursday. For the hosts, the goals came from Manpreet Singh (17’), Sukhjeet Singh (19’), Shilanand Lakra (24’), and Vivek Sagar Prasad (38’). Meanwhile Shafiq Hassan (2’) found the back of the net for Malaysia in the opening minutes of the match.
It was a landmark day for Captain Harmanpreet Singh as well, as he won his 250th cap for the Indian Men’s Hockey Team. And former captain Manpreet too had a good night, with a goal and assist as he was named Player of the Match. It was a solid return to form for India who were pretty wasteful against Korea but somewhat got their rhythm back in order to bolster their points tally before squaring off against China in the final Super 4s match on Saturday.
India went top of the Super 4s table after beating Malaysia, with China in second place after an impressive 3-0 win against Korea earlier in the evening. The India vs China match promises to be a close one while Malaysia’s campaign now depends on beating Korea. For defending champions Korea, the title defence is precariously poised as they now have to beat Malaysia and hope that India beat China.
Reminder that the Women's Asia Cup is also upon us...
No Savita Punia in goal.
No Deepika going forward.
But a few crucial players returning.
The Indian Express spoke to coach Harendra Singh ahead of the Asia Cup starting on Friday in Hangzhou. A massive test coming up for the Indian women.
The Super 4s stage is going down to the wire on Saturday.
Korea vs Malaysia: 5 pm
India vs China: 7.30 pm
The top two teams will square off in the final for a spot in next year's World Cup.
SUPER 4S STANDING: India top of the round-robin stage. Need to avoid defeat against China on Saturday to ensure their passage to the final on Sunday.
GOALSCORERS TONIGHT: India with three field goals out of four, not a very common sight.
Player of the match: MANPREET SINGH
A terrific performance from the former India captain, who was involved in plenty of attacking moves. His rare goal was the equaliser India were hunting for, then he had an assist later for Vivek too. Shilanand Lakra had a good match too, it is worth noting.
A poor start to the match, conceding a goal that was probably Pathak's error and some loose defending too. Then came a frustrating quarter. The attacking moves kept breaking down, there were no clear cut chances being created. But three goals in the second quarter turned the match around. Vivek added gloss to the scoreline in the second half.
Harmanpreet has brought the game to a grinding halt in the final minute. Hits a pass to Ami, who drills one into the circle but too much heat on that. In the final seconds, Abhishek has a chance as he dribbles forward down the left flank. But his final shot is neither actually a shot nor a cross nor a pass. Perhaps somewhat of a fitting end to Abhishek's night who was largely struggling to make an impact.
The hooter goes and India register their best win of the tournament (not considering the 15-0 against Kazakhstan)
Akhimullah with a good move inside the circle, he has had some bright moments with not too much help from the others, especially in the absence of Fittri Sari.
CHANCE MISSED! Just as we say it is coming to a slow end, Shilanand Lakra with a great steal, turns over possession down the left and drives forward. But after entering the circle, he gets too eager for that goal and hits a reverse shot that goes wide. Sukhjeet was diving forward looking for a deflection. Lakra could have gone for the pass there.
A patiently worked move from back to front by India. Jugraj to Jarman to Raj Kumar Pal down the right channel. The UP midfielder does very well with a drop of shoulder to evadea a couple of tackles but as he enters the circle seemed like he had a back stick contact.
Under three mins to go, the match coming to a slow end.
A driving counterattack from India down the middle, going at a good pace but the moves breaks down at the edge of the circle, Mandeep couldn't quite bring the ball back under his control.
Just over 5 mins left, India comfortably in the lead.
Rajinder with a good pass down the right flank and Abhishek controls the ball well in a tight space and drives forward but is tackled outside the circle. Abhishek has another chance shortly after, Rajinder with a good pass into the circle (or might have been Jugraj) and the Indian forward tries to deflect it forward. Goes wide.
Just over 10 mins left in this match and India are looking comfortable here against Malaysia. The latter would actually like to score a couple of goals if they could. Even if they lose this match, goal difference could come into play.
It's been a slightly quiet start to the final quarter but Rajinder Singh drives through the right flank to cause some excitement and cuts back. The ball falls to Dilpreet but his diving attempt is not a clean contact with the ball. Good endeavour from the Indian youngster though, great run that.
What a passing move! Aiman Rozemi cuts back in from the left and plays a sensational through ball into the circle where Akhimullah controls the ball well, tries to turn using his 3D skills but India's defence holds on.
That brings an end to the third quarter as India extend their lead further.
Confirmation that India's 4th goal goes down as a field goal as the ball went out of the circle from the drag flick and was recycled back into the attacking circle. Three field goals out of four for India, that will please Craig Fulton no end.
GOAALLLLLL INDIA! The PC is taken by Jugraj Singh with Harman not on the pitch. The pace on the drag flick is furious... it hits the post and thunders out of the circle. Sumit is alert to it and picks up the ball outside the attacking circle, drives forwrd and finds Manpreet. The former India captain cuts the ball back and it is another rare goalscorer.
Vivek Sagar Prasad is there waiting in the middle and turns the ball in.
Great work by the Indian team to be alert to that chance of recycling possession.
It's all a little bit scrappy at the moment as Malaysia look to apply some attacking pressure. Missed passes, not clean tackling... but India come out with possession.
Down th other end Shilanand wins a PC for India. Brilliant reverse pass from Manpreet into the circle, Shilanand controls the ball and it touches the defender's foot. Marhan Jalil, the MAS captain is the guilty party.
Sloppy from India. Absolutely no pressing from Malaysia, they are just sitting back deep in defence. India recycle the ball slowly, Harmanpreet Singh's pass down the left flank is poorly controlled by Sanjay and the ball goes out of play.
Is that a save? Or off the crossbar? Not clear even from replays but India keep their 2-goal lead by the smallest of margins. Not sure Pathak got any stick on it.
PC FOR MALAYSIA: Their main goalscorer Akhimullah Anwar does superbly with his 3D skills inside the circle and Sumit is deemed to have fouled him.
Krishan Pathak is back in goal for India in the second half. Suraj Karkera, as expected, would be back between the posts for the final quarter.
Here we go, the second half is underway.
Looking back at the highlights of the first half, must say Shilanand Lakra has had a really good match. A lovely assist for the 2nd goal, and the finish for the third was excellent too. Abhishek has struggled but his pre-assist to Lakra for India's 2nd was also a good outcome. It's just the consistency that has been worrying.
We felt that opening quarter was one of the poorer 15 minutes India have played under Craig Fulton. But Q2 is much improved. Manpreet Singh's goal off a rebound settles India, and they hit two more quick goals. 3-1 at HT. And India have turned this around pretty neatly heading into the interval.
A lull in play and India won't mind that. The hardwork in this quarter has paid off, they need to ensure they don't Malaysia back into this match before half time.
GOALLLLLL INDIA! What a quarter from India that. After a pooor start to this match, they have hit back in some style. Hardik Singh with a great release down the middle, into space. Dilpreet Singh has been central to India's attacking attempts, he receives the ball, turns and hits a powerful ground pass into the circle. Shilanand Lakra puts in a dive, gets his stick to contact the ball first-time and it loops over the goalkeeper.
Great poacher's finish, and a lovely vertical move at speed.
It's just not been Abhishek's night. That is another waste of an opening. He has acres of blue turf in front of him, rarely any defensive pressure as India break the Malaysian press but his release pass to Dilpreet is cut out far too easily.
A green card for Sukhjeet Singh as he gets into a rash tackle down the left flank. That was a rush of adrenaline.
Two minutes, India down to 10 men.
GOAL INDIA! HOSTS BACK INTO THE LEAD. Abhishek finds Shilanand Lakra in the final third with a cute reverse pass, Lakra touches the ball on to Sukhjeet who sweeps the ball home.
Manpreet Singh draws India level... after a pretty poor Q1 overall, India starting to hit their gears in Q2 as Sukhjeet puts India ahead. Finally an attacking move that didn't break down.
GOAL INDIA!!! EQUALISER! The pressure eventually pays off from the series of PCs. Harmanpreet's flick finally beats the rusher and that is key here. The goalkeeper is able to palm it away but the ball falls into the middle of a danger area where Manpreet Singh is at hand to slap the ball home.
A RARE MANPREET GOAL.
A PC FOR INDIA: Abhishek is fouled down the right channel, tackled from behind.
The trap is not the cleanest, but Vivek is alert to keep the possession and gets a shot away. Wins another PC.
Harmanpreet's flick is rushed out well. Another retake coming in though.
This time they go to Jugraj Singh in the second battery. Amirul Azahar is rushing these out so well.
Another PC though.
End of the first quarter and it is, in all honesty, a woeful start from India. Conceded a goal in the first minute pretty much from the first attacking move by Malaysia. And since then, there has been already attacking moves of note from India.
Mihir Vasavda: If they don't score soon I see another struggle, they'll all start going individual.
Worth noting that it Already happened once where the players are pointing fingers. Hardik with a pass forward, Mandeep goes into the circle, hits a reverse pass... and the forwards are left looking at each other.
Great interception in the middle of the pitch by Hardik Singh, he hits a good minus pass to keep the possession going. The ball goes to Abhishek down the right.... and the move breaks down agin. Abhishek looks like a player heavily short of confidence or rhythm or both at the moment.
India keeping possession but nothing to alarm Malaysia. It's all too passive at the moment.
India come forward with a strong crossfield pass from Jarmanpreet in deep defence. It goes all the way to Mandeep Singh down the left who feeds an inside-out pass into the circle. But quite shockingly, Abhishek is the only forward there. He is surrounded by a plethora of defenders and the move breaks down. Surely Mandeep had to wait for a better option?
Shortly after it is Abhishek's turn to waste a good position with a poor, poor pass across the pitch.
Completely disjoint once more.
Amit Rohidas launches a crossfield aerial ball to Dilpree Singh down the right flank, he controls it well and plays a cute pass into the danger area. The shot on goal (looked like from Abhishek) is away from goal. Dilpreet involved in another half chance but the Malaysian defence is dealing with the threat quite alright.
Halfway into Q1 and India finally starting to get some attacking possession going.
Shafiq is once again at it from the left channel and this time the Indian defence somehow clear the danger.
Oh dear, another let off for India. Harmanpreet taking his time on the ball in a danger area, looked like he lost possession but the whitle goes in his favour. India are yet to arrive in this match,
Five minutes in... not many good things to write about the Indian gameplay.
GOAL MALAYSIA! WHAT A START FOR MALAYSIA! In the first minute, Shafiq Hassan makes a driving run down the left flank, evades an Indian challenge and sweeps the ball past Krishan Pathak in goal. The goalkeeper really should be doing better there. That wasn't the most venomous strike on goal.
India under the pump in the first minute.
The commentators confirm that Fittri Sari, the experienced No 7 for Malaysia, is not available for this match due to a suspension. That's a blow for Malaysia.
The Indian captain is playing in his 250th appearance for the senior national team.
He is felicitated ahead of the match. He has a brief smile but back to his game face soon.
He needs a big night, as India look to bounce back from the draw against Korea.
Confirmation of playing XIs. It looks like Malaysia will be a player short today. Reason not clear yet.
We need to defend well andd take our chances, says the Malaysian coach Sarjit Kundan.
Not often you get any deep insights in these pre-match interviews.
Can India bounce back from the draw against Korea? Malaysia have won all four of their matches so far. This could be a decisive night for Harmanpreet Singh and Co. Here's a look at the tournament's leading goalscorers so far.
China bounce back after their defeat against Malaysia to stun the defending champions Korea. It makes the Super 4s standings even more fascinating.
CHINA BEAT KOREA: Photo from Mihir Vasavda as play resumes and the match ends with a superb 3-0 scoreline for China. Korea's title defence is in jeopardy.
The formality will be completed in China vs Korea as the match restarts.
Even as the mistakes cost India two goals, the forwards did little to enhance their impression. Fulton took heart in the fact that the team continued creating chances against a side that had all men in their own half. But there was growing frustration among the players at their inability to beat the goalkeeper. Manpreet Singh slapped the ball inside the ‘D’ from the right flank. He found an unmarked Sukhjeet Singh near the penalty spot. The forward was one-on-one with the goalkeeper, who was off his line, but he lacked composure and his reverse hit missed the target completely. Sukhjeet fell on his knees in frustration.
Minutes later, Abhishek got a pass inside the shooting circle. He seemed to have enough time and space to take a shot, but the forward — one of the more reliable goalscorers — didn’t connect well and the ball wobbled past the right post. Abhishek smashed his stick on the turf and winced. Abhishek had another chance in the final quarter. But he tried to turn a defender before taking a shot, thus losing precious seconds and allowing a defender to close him down. Raj Kumar Pal then played a pass across the face of the goal, but there was no Indian there to finish.
From Mihir Vasavda's recap of IND vs KOR
Here are some images from Mihir at the venue, volunteers are back at work to get the pitch ready. The water-logging is an issue again.
This is not good news from Mihir, who says: "Heavier than yesterday..entire turf covered in water."
First this Korea vs China match would have to be completed and this means India vs Malaysia is very likely to be delayed. Yesterday we had nearly one hour delay.
Mihir Vasavda from Rajgir: Another heavy downpour! Match stopped as Korea and China's players head out of the pitch. They were playing for a few minutes under the rain but it has gotten really heavy and play has been suspended in the fourth quarter with 3 mins or so left.
Oh this is a very impressive result! China are leading 3-0 against Korea in the first Super 4s match of the day. A potentially title-defence ending result for Korea, this. It also makes the Super 4s even more open with Malaysia in the form they are in.
Earlier this year, the team’s European leg of the Pro League was marked by a spate of individual errors that resulted in the team losing seven out of the eight matches. It was more of the same against South Korea. In the 12th minute, Jugraj Singh was found guilty of intentionally pushing Seyong Oh in front of the Indian goal. The Koreans were awarded a penalty stroke, which Jihun Yang converted without much fuss. At that moment, South Korea were a transformed team. If, before the start, the crowd had to sit under a lightning night sky of Rajgir, the players on the field were now facing the lightning-fast Koreans.
Craig Fulton disappeared into the dressing room furiously wiping his tactics board blank. Nothing, after all, that unfolded in the first half made any sense. India’s defenders were pushing forward, trying, in vain, to score. The forwards were falling back, playing a part in conceding goals rather than preventing. As the attackers and back line failed miserably in their primary duties, a midfielder, who rarely features on the scoresheet, sprang out of nowhere to score a wonder goal. This can’t have been the India coach’s gameplan, surely? It was that kind of a night of the Asia Cup, though.
Read more from Mihir Vasavda's last night's report on a dramatic night in Rajgir.
Welcome to our continued live coverage of Indian hockey and our focus today is on a crucial Super 4s match against Malaysia in the men's Asia Cup in Rajgir.
India managed to eke out a late draw against title holders and 5-time winners Korea in their first Super 4s clash in the men’s Asia Cup on Wednesday in Rajgir. The match’s start was delayed by nearly an hour but India started brightly and vice captain Hardik Singh scored a fine solo goal to give the hosts a lead. But Korea hit back in the first quarter with a penalty stroke and penalty corner. Two goalless quarters followed but with 7 minutes to go, Mandeep Singh equalised for India from close range to salvage a point in the Super 4s round-robin match. Jihun Yang (12′) and Hyeonhong Kim (14′) scored for Korea.
Craig Fulton disappeared into the dressing room furiously wiping his tactics board blank. Nothing, after all, that unfolded in the first half made any sense.
India’s defenders were pushing forward, trying, in vain, to score. The forwards were falling back, playing a part in conceding goals rather than preventing. As the attackers and back line failed miserably in their primary duties, a midfielder, who rarely features on the scoresheet, sprang out of nowhere to score a wonder goal.
