Top five highest goalscorers in Asian Champions Trophy 2021
(Courtesy : Hockey India)
Four Indians feature in this prestigious list.
The Asian Champions Trophy 2021 just reached its conclusion at the Maulana Bhasani Hockey Stadium in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Contested among the six best teams of Asia, it truly was a spectacle. South Korea emerged as champions, while India returned home with a bronze medal
85 goals were scored at a rate of 6.08 per match as the event saw goals galore. Here are players who find themselves in the top five highest scorers in the Asian Champions Trophy 2021:
5. Arshad Hossain ( Bangladesh), Jarmanpreet Singh (India), Ahmed Nadeem (Pakistan), Akashdeep Singh (India), Yoshiki Kirishita (Japan) and Abdul Rana (Pakistan) - 3 goals
There are six players from different nationalities tied in the fifth spot. All these athletes have scored three goals each in the tournament. Arshad Hussain scored a brace against Pakistan and a solo goal against South Korea. Jarmanpreet scored a brace against Bangladesh and one against Japan.
While Ahmed Nadeem scored his two goals against Bangladesh and his last one of his campaign against India. Ahmed's compatriot Abdul Rana also happened to find the net against South Korea and India. Japan's Yoshiki Kirishita became the country's highest goalscorer with his three goals in the tournament. Akashdeep Singh who scored India's last goal in this campaign in the third place playoff against Pakistan.
4. Afraz - 4 goals
Afraz was an uexpected star at the Asian Champions Trophy for Pakistan. He scored four goals in the competition and became his country's top scorer in the event. He opened his account against eventual winners South Korea, helping his side earn a draw courtesy of his 24th minute goal and get that vital point.
Afraz followed it up with a goal against Bangladesh in a 6-2 victory. The goal was brilliantly crafted. The Pakistani players played lovely passes in the Bangladesh box and laid the ball for Afraz, which he accepted gracefully and tapped it into an open net. The goal allowed his side to take a 2-1 lead. The next two goals came against South Korea and India in the semi-final and bronze medal match respectively. Both unfortunately couldn't help his side win, despite the matches being close.
3. Dilpreet Singh - 5 goals
India forward Dilpreet Singh certainly did his duties diligently in the Asian Champions Trophy. The Amritsar-born youngster scored five goals, becoming the third-highest goalscorer in the event.
He opened his account with a hat-trick against Bangladesh in a thumping 9-0 win. Then he added another against Japan 23rd minute in another blistering 6-0 win in the group stages. His last goal of the tournament also came against Japan in the semi-final in the 17th minute.
2. Harmanpreet Singh - 8 goals
Before the Asian Champions Trophy had even begun, Harmanpreet Singh was the player to watch out for, courtesy of his marking skills as a defender and his lethal finishing as a drag-flicker. Singh did not disappoint.
He scored in every match India played in the tournament and notched up eight goals in the process, all from penalty-corners. It was Harmanpreet's goal in the 2nd minute that opened the scoring of India against Pakistan in their third place playoff game, helping India win the bronze medal.
1. Jang Jong-hyun -10 goals
37-year-old Jang definitely showed the younger players how things are done. Using his experience and skills, Jong-hyun scored 10 goals in the Asian Champions Trophy, starting against India in a 2-2 draw in which he scored in the 42nd minute right to in the final against Japan.
In the final, Jang scored two vital goals in the 55th and 60th minute. It helped South Korea even the score at 3-3 against Japan. This allowed the game to be taken to the tiebreaker which the Koreans eventually won. This was a truly spectacular end of a campaign for Jong-hyun and one which he rightfully deserves.
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