Agile and alert Nikkin Thimmaiah’s late goal in the fourth quarter helped India maintain its top rank in the Asia and also lift the Asian Champions Trophy for the second time in history here in Kuantan, Malaysia.

India took two-goal lead seven minutes before the half time. Pakistan did not give up, waged grim battle giving little room for Indians to manouvre more.

Quick counters and guile flank openings helped Pakistan to come back.

within three minutes after conceding the second goal, Pakistan reduced the burden by half. Heavy looking Aleem, Pak penalty corner expert, raised his level of expertise to punch the Indian cage off a penalty corner.

For Akash Chitke who had to replace Sreejesh, who aggravated his ankle injury in the Korean semifinal, could not stop the ball whistling past his ears.

The 2-1 half time score stood in good stead for the gifted neighbour.

As always India played a quarter badly in almost every game, and it was third quarter here.

Talwinder, SK Uthappa and the likes were misfiring while Shan Ali weaved past two markers to whack a forehand from top edge of circle to even out the score.

Earlier, ultimate ‘Best Player’ of the Kuantan mela, Rupinder Pal Singh, did not indulge in indirect methods, but put it away straight in the 18th minute (1-1).

Indians had the upper hand in the second quarter too.

Diminutive Affan Yousaff surged from the right and receiving his return pass from Pardeep Mor flashed the stick making the ball crash into D (2-0)

And then India seemed to have gone up when a freehit entered the D, and even the ever-alert neutral umpire Peter Wright signalled for a goal, Indian celebrations on the field and off it started.

Furious Pak team went for a referral, and got the goal cancelled.

Similarly on the other side Grime Murry gave India a Penalty Corner in melee, but it did not survive a referral.

Struggling India came to celebration when shortly after Uthappa messed up a sitter, with a Sardar Singh led Nikkin Thimmaiah goal 3-2).

Pakistan tried hard, had its moments of success in moves and counter movers, but India preferred to focus on defence. A late penalty corner too was wasted, posing no serious challenge to Chikte.

Oltamans had to perforce play with one man less due to Surender Kumar’s two-match ban, but he utilized the injury of Sreejesh to rest him and play single goalie, thereby getting one more player for substitution options.