India determined to retain Asian Champions Trophy title: Harmanpreet

Muscat  :  Indias ace penalty corner specialist Harmanpreet Singh said the team is focused on retaining the Asian Champions Trophy title, currently underway at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex here.

Harmanpreet scored three goals on Wednesday night to give India a 4-1 victory over South Korea in their last league outing.

"The Indian team goes out looking for early goals every time," Harmanpreet said in a statement on Thursday.

India stayed on top of the league standings with 13 points from five outings. Their semi-final opponent will be determined after the last round of league matches tonight, although Malaysia, Pakistan and Japan have earned enough points to push South Korea and Oman out of the frame.

"The team is maintaining its structure and focused on retaining the title," said Harmanpreet, whose coach considers him as one of the ace penalty corner takers.

Harmanpreet also praised the Indian fans for boosting the morale of the team in all parts of the world.

"The support from Indian fans here in Muscat has been wonderful. The fan support is always a big boost for us," he said.

Harmanpreet made a dramatic entry into international hockey when he made his debut in the 2016 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh (Malaysia) and went on to represent India in the Champions Trophy in London and the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro within a couple of months.

The spotlight has not left him since then. Coach Harendra Singh says Harmanpreet had developed into an excellent drag-flicker.

"Harmanpreet is one of the best penalty corner shooters in the game today," Harendra, who wants the strikers to earn more penalty corners so that India's strength in that can also transform into goals, said.

"The strikers should always keep in mind that there's an option of forcing a penalty corner when they are not finding space for a shy at the goal. When you are not finding space to shoot at the goal, try to earn penalty corners," he added.

"The penalty corners provide a cushion and a chance for direct shot at the goal. We have the ability to score both with direct penalty corner flicks and on the rebounds."