New Delhi, June 2: Indian football team skipper Sunil Chhetri scored a stunner of a hat-trick at the Mumbai Football Arena on Friday evening against Chinese Taipei 5-0 in the opener of the four-nation Intercontinental Cup. Chhetri struck the 14th, 34th and 62nd minute to once again etch his name on record books.

With his third international hat-trick, Chhetri jumped to the third spot on the list of active international goalscorers. 

Chhetri opened the scoresheet for the confident Indian side with a wonderful assist by Jeje. 20 minutes later, he repeated the feat, after a fine display of one-touch passing between Chhetri Jeje and Anirudh Thapa at the edge of the box. 

17 minutes into the second half, Udanta Singh netted the third goal for India, before Chhetri completed his hat-trick with a stunning shot into the top corner of the net. 

Chhetri now has 59 international goals from 98 matches since his debut for India in 2005. His hat-trick helped him equal David Villa's goal tally who has also played the same number of games for his country Spain. The Indian captain now stands third on the list of active international goalscorers, only behind Cristiano Ronaldo (81 goals from 149 matches) and Lionel Messi (64 from 124 matches). 

Adding to it, as per goals-per-match ratio, Chhetri stands ahead of the two stalwarts with his mark of 0.60 as compared to Ronaldo's 0.54 and Messi's 0.52. Although, Brazil's Neymar (0.65) and Maldives' Ali Ashfaq (0.66) stand above the Indian. 

"Good feeling to get the hat-trick but tonight was all about getting a win and the aim here is UAE 2019. Fortunate to play with great teammates, got some great passes today, was just in the right position to finish," said Chhetri during the post-match presentation. India will next play Kenya on June 4.

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Kalaburagi: Priyank Kharge, Minister of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, in a press conference at the Congress office in the city on Monday said that Union Home Minister Amit Shah is the director of the pen drive case involving JDS MP Prajwal Revanna.

Kharge also attacked the BJP for it's reluctance to condemn Prajwal Revanna's actions, instead opting to divert attention by calling for investigations into the video's release and pushing for a CBI inquiry.

He questioned the lack of action from the central government in safeguarding the dignity of the women involved and condemned its action of not yet canceling the diplomatic passport of Prajwal Revanna.

Speaking on the limitations of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in handling the case, Kharge stressed the necessity for cooperation from the Centre to arrest Prajwal Revanna from abroad. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has already reached out to the Centre regarding this matter.

Legislative council member Shakala Allamaprabhu Patil, Tippanappa Kamakanur, former minister Revunayaka Belamagi, Congress party's Jagadev Guttedar, Chairman of Kalaburagi Urban Development Authority Mazhar Alam Khan, and Eranna Jhalaki were present.