Defender Harmanpreet Singh scored a brace as favorite India beat their arch-rival Pakistan by 3-1 goals in the much anticipated grudge match of ongoing Hero Men’s Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament held today (Friday) at Maulana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium.

The day’s win saw, India lead top of the table with seven points from three matches while Pakistan remained at their previous credit of one point from two outings.

Apart from Harmanpreet Singh’s two goals, forward Akashdeep Singh supported him with a lone goal as India register their second win in the round robin league stage of the tournament. Junaid Manzoor scored a solitary goal for Pakistan.

Harmanpreet Singh gave India a deserving lead early in the 9th minute converting a penalty corner before Akashdeep made it double in the 42nd minute for the men in blue.

Pakistan managed to reduce the margin as Junaid Manzoor put one back into the Indian net with a deflected shot past Indian goalkeeper Suraj Karkera and brought his team back into the game in the 45th minute.

However, Harmanpreet scored his second goal and third for India via another penalty corner in the 53rd match to seal India’s remarkable victory in the match.

Olympic bronze medallist Indian men’s hockey team will take on Japan in its last round-robin match of the five-team tournament scheduled to be held on Sunday (Dec 19) while Pakistan face South Korea tomorrow (Saturday) in their third match before playing their last match of the tournament against Bangladesh on Dec 19.

India had earlier played out a 2-2 draw with South Korea in their opening match before thrashing host Bangladesh 9-0 in their second match.

On the other hand, Pakistan played to a goalless draw with Japan in their first match of the tournament.