Asian Champions Trophy 2023: Harmanpreet Singh stars as India dominate arch rivals Pakistan

India has a fortunate quantity 13.

He lifts iron weighing as much as 165kg within the health club. And covers as a lot as 8km on the pitch. He scores targets and intercepts passes. Launches booming aerial balls and performs defence-splitting crosses. A free man who, with impeccable imaginative and prescient, units his teammates free.

There’s not lots Harmanpreet Singh doesn’t do. Yet, on most days, it’s his misses that get talked about extra. Invariably earlier than each match and after it, the India captain will get requested about his ‘poor’ conversion fee from penalty corners. Each time, he smiles again: “Bilkul, koshish karte rahenge (Of course, I’ll keep trying).”

The Men in Blue march into the Semi Finals of the Hero Asian Champions Trophy Chennai 2023 undefeated.#HockeyIndia #IndiaKaGame #HACT2023 pic.twitter.com/30JNbIohdb

— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) August 9, 2023

It’s a travesty that Harmanpreet’s contribution is lowered merely to his drag-flicks. The ultimate group stage match of the Asian Champions Trophy in opposition to Pakistan, a 4-0 victory, was one other reminder of all that he brings to the desk.

On an evening when Pakistan seemed threatening in phases with their breezy counter-attacks and speedy turnovers, Harmanpreet’s vice-like grip ensured the story adopted the script in entrance of a packed Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium.

It very almost went awry as Pakistan’s younger bunch performed with freedom and fearlessness that caught India off guard. Had they been slightly extra scientific within the attacking third – and never been on the receiving finish of what their coach Muhammad Saqlain referred to as ‘very poor’ umpiring calls – issues may have been totally different.

Harmanpreet Singh’s mighty pair of targets elevate him because the Hero of the match, whereas Vivek Sagar Prasad shines as the sport’s excellent younger expertise.

🇮🇳 India 4-0 Pakistan 🇵🇰#HockeyIndia #IndiaKaGame #HACT2023 #INDvPAK @CMO_Odisha @CMOTamilnadu @asia_hockey @FIH_Hockey… pic.twitter.com/ZNFjgoolCw

— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) August 9, 2023

But Harmanpreet’s two targets – highly effective drag-flicks both aspect of the goalkeeper – put India heading in the right direction to the facile win over Pakistan to arrange a semifinal conflict with Japan on Friday (the second semifinal shall be between Malaysia and Korea).

But as is the case with Harmanpreet, it wasn’t simply in regards to the targets.

In a crew of energetic, extroverted characters, Harmanpreet is the quiet one. And whereas the crew is break up between Messi and Ronaldo followers, he brings each teams collectively and in addition throws Xavi within the combine. For, movies of those three gamers are stated to be populating his laborious drive.

On most days on the nationwide camp in Bengaluru, he’ll be watching outdated movies, not of himself, however of those footballers and, at occasions, even basketball gamers.

If not sports activities, biopics are on his watchlist. “I try to learn a lot from the lives of other players,” he had instructed this paper in an earlier interview. Back then, he’d simply completed watching The Redeem Team. “It was so good; you get to learn about their mentality, the way they think. It’s inspiring.”

Now that is a superb save from @KrishanBPathak

Are you watching #INDvPAKonFanCode ❓ pic.twitter.com/KDNpAkFjyF

— FanCode (@FanCode) August 9, 2023

He’s, most of the time, the final to go away the coaching floor too. After everybody’s gone, Harmanpreet shall be alone on the pitch with the ball, determining new angles and imagining passes.

“I visualise alone. I take 3-4 balls and then create match situations. If I have to play a ball on the run, then what can I do? Or if I simply have to split the defence… That practice comes in handy sometimes during a match because I don’t waste an extra second thinking.”

Complete participant

It’s a glimpse into the thoughts of a participant who is generally recognized for his brawn. Harmanpreet’s drag-flicks, which fly at speeds of as much as 150kmph, are the stuff of legend – he’s at present the top-scorer of the match – however his different delicate contributions with utmost nonchalance are equally breathtaking.

Like the second within the second half in opposition to Pakistan on Wednesday. Harmanpreet received a free hit in a seemingly innocent place close to the half-line. Even because the Pakistani gamers have been moving into their positions, Harmanpreet noticed a spot of their defence and with lazy magnificence, slapped the ball from the half-line into their ‘D’. Akashdeep Singh received a contact to it however not sufficient to deflect the ball into the objective.

It’s in defence, although, the place Harmanpreet’s interventions are decisive.

One of the perfect drag sparkles on this planet for a purpose!@13harmanpreet#INDvPAKonFanCode #HACT2023 pic.twitter.com/voryv6qSF5

— FanCode (@FanCode) August 9, 2023

When Pakistan started sharply, coming into India’s ‘D’ inside the primary minute and scoring a objective, his determination to problem the decision led to the strike being overturned. When their attackers tried to get behind the defence, he remained a step forward, learn the strikes and calmly intercepted their passes.

This was the pattern even on the World Cup earlier this yr, the place he was panned for not changing the dozen or so penalty corners that got here India’s approach.

Harmanpreet performs as a free man, who is actually a defensive problem-solver; a participant who operates within the area between defence and midfield, stopping the ball from coming into the circle.

“My responsibility is to block the hotline (the direct line between the attacker and the goal),” Harmanpreet stated. “I have to communicate with the midfielders and forwards. If their man is in a particular position, I have to tell them to mind their man.”

One for the historical past books📘
Reliving the unforgettable India vs. Pakistan epic showdown by means of compelling visuals 💯

🇮🇳 India 3-0 Pakistan 🇵🇰#HockeyIndia #IndiaKaGame #HACT2023 #IndvsPak@CMO_Odisha @CMOTamilnadu @asia_hockey @FIH_Hockey @IndiaSports activities @Media_SAI @sports_odisha pic.twitter.com/KOVx59Vo3h

— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) August 9, 2023

Communicating with teammates, blocking passing channels, launching assaults, difficult the umpires’ calls and taking drag-flicks. If he’s overburdened, Harmanpreet isn’t displaying it.

“If you are casual on the field, then you get lazy; that spark is missing. Your mind is sharp, responsibility hai, communication hai; you are constantly analysing the game even when on the field,” he stated. “I enjoy all these responsibilities.”

The duty will solely enhance as India mount a problem to reclaim the Asian Games gold. And they’ll depend on their fortunate quantity 13.