India remains undefeated after a draw against Malaysia

India, reigning champion, was imposed 0-0 by Malaysia at the Champions Trophy Hockey Tournament of Asia on Tuesday.

India, undefeated in the tournament for the fourth straight game, almost got its place in the semifinals. They will play their last group match against South Korea on Wednesday.

India's match against Malaysia should be the best of the tournament for the following reasons: a) they are among the top two in the tournament b) Malaysia (ranked 13th) had defeated India (ranked fifth) at the Asian Games and, well, there were stories of a return on investment.

But the teams headed for half-time, with no result. The Malaysians started the game well, keeping the ball with them and hardly giving it to India. But after a few minutes, the men in blue appeared as a more installed unit. They made more interceptions and the flow of pbades was smooth. India created a series of chances but failed to convert them.

At the seventh minute, Mandeep Singh – at the mouth of the guardian – failed to catch a center Gurjant Singh left.

A minute later, after an inadvertent deflection by the Malaysian defender, Dilpreet Singh sent the ball away from inside the opposing circle. He just had to beat the goalkeeper.

Towards the end of the first quarter, Mandeep recovered the ball just outside the Malaysian circle. He touched the ball, trying to find the top right corner of the net. But his shot, which had a little too much power, was flying far.

The men in blue also failed to convert the first penalty corner of the match. Harmanpreet Singh sent the ball with great power, but right against the goalkeeper of Malaysia, who had no trouble blocking it.

India had broken the Malaysian circle in the first quarter ten times and had scored four shots on goal. Malaysia had only three circle entries and no shot on goal. India was clearly the best team but it did not have a goal to display.

The intensity of both teams dropped in the second quarter. India has not managed to create a chance even though it has violated the Malaysian circle many times.

"It's a little frustrating to see us having so many practices in a circle (13) but not a lot of shots on goal. The boys must be calm during the final pbad, "said coach Harendra Singh at the break.

But even in the following two quarters, India has failed to place The Malaysian defense held up better in the second half and the men in blue scored only two shots on goal in that phase.

India's best chances to take the lead came to fourth quarter with two penalty points, but Harmanpreet and Akashdeep Singh failed to throw the ball into the Malaysian net

Malaysia attempted a strong counter-attack in the closing seconds of the game. But one of their strikers lost his balance and could not stop the ball out of the game.