In their first outing since securing their second successive Olympic bronze medal in Paris, the Indian men’s hockey team were comfortable 3-0 winners over China at the Asian Champions Trophy in Hulunbuir on Sunday.
Sukhjeet Singh (14th minute), Uttam, Singh (27th) and Abhishek (32nd) were the goal-scorers in a game in which India never seemed in any danger despite making a lukewarm start. All three strikes were field goals.
India, the defending champions in the tournament, are title favorites again with Pakistan, Korea, Malaysia and Japan the other teams in the fray.
Team India off to a perfect start here at Hulunbuir, Inner Mongolia in the Hero Asian Champions Trophy 2024 with a 3-0 win over the hosts China.
Sukhjeet Singh, Uttam Singh and Abhishek score for Team India.
Next up Japan🇯🇵 tomorrow at 1.15 PM (IST)#HeroACT2024 #IndvChn, pic.twitter.com/rh1Sc5MTZy
— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) September 8, 2024
It were the hosts who got off the blocks quicker, but were not able to test Krishan Pathak, at last the designated No.1 goalkeeper after the retirement of stalwart PR Sreejesh.
When Abhishek earned a penalty corner, skipper Harmanpreet Singh, who was in blistering form at the Olympics getting a lion’s share of India’s goals, had his drag-flick saved. The subsequent counter-attack was thwarted by the Indian defence.
China had the chance to take the lead from a penalty corner, but to no avail.
India slowly began to impose themselves on the game and it was when Sukhjeet deflected a hit into the circle by Jugraj Singh past Chinese custodian Caiyu Wang that India went ahead towards the end of the first quarter.
There was no looking back for them thereafter. Abhishek had a shot saved at the start of the second period as India took full control. Three minutes before half-time, former junior captain Uttam doubled the lead, slotting in the rebound after Mohammad Raheel’s attempt was saved.
India started the third quarter by adding to their tally as Manpreet Singh found Abhishek at the top of the circle, and he scored with a characteristic half-turn and bullet shot to make it 3-0.
China didn’t lose heart and were not shy in going on the attack, even though their finishing was not up to the mark. On the other hand, India could have widened the victory margin if they had been a bit more clinical in front of goal.
No goals conceded was what pleased skipper Harmanpreet the most from the contest.
“We created some good chances but the best part is that we kept a clean sheet,” he said after the game.
India face Japan in their second match on Monday. In other games, Malaysia held Pakistan 2-2 while Japan and Korea shared the spoils in a 10-goal thriller.
