Indian men's hockey team begin Asian Champions trophy campaign with an emphatic 3-0 win over China
The Indian men's hockey team began their 2024 Asian Champions Trophy campaign with an emphatic 3-0 win against China in their tournament opener on Sunday (September 8).
Sukhjeet Singh gave his side the lead against the run of play late in the opening quarter before Uttam Singh added to the tally in the second quarter to swing the momentum firmly in favour of the Indians.
Abhishek piled on the misery for the Chinese with a scorching strike just after half-time even as the Olympic bronze medalists picked up three vital points at the Moqi Training Base in Hulunbuir.
The Chinese began in earnest with an early foray as early as the second minute but failed to make the most of the promising move. Abhishek and Mohammed Raheel combined to rattle the Chinese defence in the fifth minute but a goalmouth melee prevented the Indians from taking a shot on target.
The Indians earned a penalty corner in the seventh minute but Harmanpreet Singh's drag flick was cut off before the hosts launched a speedy counter-attack to no avail.
Jugraj Singh found an unmarked Sukhjeet Singh who deflected the ball past Chinese goalkeeper Wang Caiyu in the 14th minute to give the defending champions a 1-0 lead.
Uttam Singh got his name onto the scoresheet off a rebound after Raheel's shot was stopped by the goalkeeper in the 27th minute. The move which emanated off a Harmanpreet Singh free hit resulted in a couple of more chances for the Indians.
Araijeet SIngh Hundal unleashed a tomahawk in the 28th minute with debutant Gurjot Singh unable to latch on at the goalmouth. Abhishek provided spectators with a glimpse of his goalscoring abilities with a spectacular goal in the 32nd minute.
Harmanpreet Singh tried his hand at a drag flick a minute later but was unable to trouble Wang Weihao who replaced Wang Caiyu in the Chinese goal midway through the third quarter.
The Chinese missed a couple of short corners late in the final quarter in an attempt to find a consolation goal.
The Indians will now face Japan in their second Asian Champions Trophy encounter on September 9.
India seek to defend title, register record-extending fifth win in Asian Champions Trophy
Back in 2023, the Indians won the seventh edition of the Asian Champions Trophy which was held in Chennai, thus becoming the first side to have won the tournament four times.
India emerged unbeaten through the preliminaries with some comprehensive wins, including a 7-2 victory against China, a 4-0 win over arch-rivals Pakistan and a 5-0 triumph against Malaysia.
Japan was the only team that managed to hold Craig Fulton's chargers to a 1-1 draw in the pool stages but were beaten comprehensively by the Indians in the semifinals with a 5-0 scoreline.
The home side came from behind to defeat Malaysia 4-3 in the finals even as three-time Asian Champions Trophy champions Pakistan failed to make the semifinals and finished fifth in Chennai.