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India earn bronze after beating Pakistan 4-3 in Asian Champions Trophy

India's players celebrate after scoring a goal during the bronze match between India and Pakistan at the Asian Championship Trophy tournament in Dhaka MUNIR UZ ZAMAN/AFP via Getty Images

Olympic bronze medalists India defeated arch-rivals Pakistan 4-3 in a pulsating third-fourth place play-off match to win the bronze medal at the Asian Champions Trophy men's hockey tournament in Dhaka on Wednesday.

India, who were the defending champions along with Pakistan in the last edition of the tournament in Muscat, will return with a consolation prize after having lost to Japan 3-5 in the semifinals on Tuesday.

India took the lead in the very first minute through vice-captain Harmanpreet Singh before Sumit (45th), Varun Kumar (53rd) and Akashdeep Singh (57th) struck a goal each.

Pakistan's goals were scored by Afraz (10th), Abdul Rana (33rd) and Ahmed Nadeem (57th).

It was India's second win over Pakistan in the tournament after having beaten the same opponents 3-1 in the round-robin stages.

Having come into the tournament as favourites and subsequently having topped the round-robin stage with an unbeaten record, the Indians ought to be disappointed to return with a bronze.