The Hero Asia Cup 2017 was held from October 11 to October 22, 2017, at the Maulana Bhashani National Hockey Stadium in Dhaka, Bangladesh. This exciting tournament featured the top teams from Asia competing for the championship. India came into the tournament with determination and strong teamwork, aiming to lift the trophy after a gap of 10 years. Throughout the competition, India showed great skill, powerful attacking moves, and solid defense, which helped them win the title for the third time. Let’s take a closer look at how India performed match by match in their journey to glory.
India’s Journey Begins: Group Stage Matches
India vs Japan (11 October 2017)
India started their campaign with a strong performance against Japan. The Indian team looked confident from the beginning and dominated the match. With good teamwork and fast passing, they managed to beat Japan with a comfortable score of 5-1, setting the tone for the rest of the tournament.
India vs Bangladesh (13 October 2017)
In their second match, India played the host team, Bangladesh. The Indian players were in top form and made the home team struggle throughout the match. India scored 7 goals and didn’t allow Bangladesh to score even once, finishing the match with a clean sheet at 7-0.
India vs Pakistan (15 October 2017)
The high-pressure match between India and Pakistan lived up to the expectations. India took early control and stayed ahead with sharp play and good defense. They defeated Pakistan by 3-1, marking an important win in the group stage and boosting their confidence going forward.
Tough Battles: Super 4s Round
India vs South Korea (18 October 2017)
India faced a tough opponent in South Korea. It was a close game where both sides had chances, but neither could finish with a win. The match ended in a 1-1 draw, showing how evenly matched both teams were.
India vs Malaysia (19 October 2017)
In this match, India once again showed their attacking power. They played aggressively and created many chances. With excellent coordination, they beat Malaysia 6-2, with goals coming from different players including Akashdeep Singh and Harmanpreet Singh, keeping India at the top of the table.
India vs Pakistan (21 October 2017)
India met Pakistan again in the Super 4s stage. Just like their earlier match, India kept control and didn’t give many chances to the opponent. With strong defense and smart play, they won the match 4-0, securing their place in the final.
The Big Final: India vs Malaysia (22 October 2017)
India and Malaysia faced off in the final on 22 October 2017 at the Maulana Bhashani National Hockey Stadium. This was a high-stakes match, as India aimed for their third Asia Cup title after 10 long years.
India started strong and attacked from the very beginning. In just the 3rd minute, SV Sunil passed the ball from the right to Ramandeep Singh, who scored on his second attempt, giving India an early 1-0 lead. India continued to put pressure and just before halftime, Akashdeep Singh passed the ball to Sumit, who then set up Lalit Upadhyay for a simple tap-in, making it 2-0 for India.
Malaysia came back fighting in the fourth quarter and scored in the 50th minute through Shahril Saabah. India’s defense was tested in the last 10 minutes as Malaysia kept attacking. But the Indian team stayed strong, showed calm defending, and held onto their 2-1 lead till the final whistle.
After the match, Indian captain Manpreet Singh said it was a proud moment for the team and praised their unity. Coach Sjoerd Marijne appreciated the way the players changed their defense towards the end. Malaysia’s coach Stephen van Huizen also praised his team for reaching their first-ever Asia Cup final and putting up a good fight.
Final Results: Who Finished Where?
India’s strong performance throughout the tournament helped them lift the Asia Cup trophy for the third time, breaking a 10-year wait. They defeated a strong Malaysian side in the final. Meanwhile, Pakistan secured third place by defeating South Korea 6–3 in the bronze medal match.
Final Standings:
- Champion – India
- 2nd Place – Malaysia
- 3rd Place – Pakistan
- 4th Place – South Korea
- 5th Place – Japan
Conclusion: Looking Ahead
India’s journey in the Asia Cup 2017 was a mix of thrilling wins, tough matches, and moments of great teamwork. The players showed skill, passion, and unity throughout the tournament. With a strong combination of attack and defense, India proved they are one of the top hockey teams in Asia. This victory gives the team a huge confidence boost as they look forward to more international competitions and aim for more titles in the future.
