Odisha’s Sanjeep Xess On Target As India Rally To Draw 3-3 With Malaysia In Asia Cup Hockey

Jakarta: Odisha’s Nilam Sanjeep Xess was on target as India fought back from a two-goal deficit to draw 3-3 with Malaysia in a Super 4s fixture of the Asia Cup hockey championship on Sunday.

India, who beat Japan 2-1 on Saturday to avenge their pool stage defeat, will face Korea in their final Super 4s game on Tuesday. The top two teams will qualify for the June 1 final.

It was Razie Rahim, the tournament’s leading goal-scorer, who led the charge for Malaysia again today with a hat-trick. He converted a penalty corner to give Malaysia a one-goal advantage in the first quarter.

Razie produced an encore in the second quarter as Malaysia held a comfortable 2-0 lead at half-time.

The Birendra Lakra-led young Indian team then produced a stirring fightback. Vishnukant reduced the margin from a penalty corner. India still trailed 1-2 as the final 15 minutes got underway. SV Sunil netted the equalizer off a fine pass by Pawan Rajbhar.

Sanjeep Xess then converted a penalty corner to put India ahead for the first time in the game.

But they failed to stop Razie Rahim from scoring his third goal and ensuring one point for Malaysia.