Of their first outing since securing their second successive Olympic bronze medal in Paris, the Indian males’s hockey group have been comfy 3-0 winners over China on the Asian Champions Trophy in Hulunbuir on Sunday.
Sukhjeet Singh (14th minute), Uttam, Singh (twenty seventh) and Abhishek (thirty second) have been the goal-scorers in a recreation through which India by no means appeared in any hazard regardless of making a lukewarm begin. All three strikes have been discipline targets.
India, the defending champions within the event, are title favourites once more with Pakistan, Korea, Malaysia and Japan the opposite groups within the fray.
Crew India off to an ideal begin right here at Hulunbuir, Interior Mongolia within the Hero Asian Champions Trophy 2024 with a 3-0 win over the hosts China.
Sukhjeet Singh, Uttam Singh and Abhishek rating for Crew India.
Subsequent up Japan🇯🇵 tomorrow at 1.15 PM (IST)#HeroACT2024 #IndvChn… pic.twitter.com/rh1Sc5MTZy
— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) September 8, 2024
It have been the hosts who obtained off the blocks faster, however weren’t capable of check Krishan Pathak, ultimately the designated No.1 goalkeeper after the retirement of stalwart PR Sreejesh.
When Abhishek earned a penalty nook, skipper Harmanpreet Singh, who was in blistering type on the Olympics getting a lion’s share of India’s targets, had his drag-flick saved. The following counter-attack was thwarted by the Indian defence.
China had the prospect to take the lead from a penalty nook, however to no avail.
India slowly started to impose themselves on the sport and it was when Sukhjeet deflected a success into the circle by Jugraj Singh previous Chinese language custodian Caiyu Wang that India went forward in direction of the top of the primary quarter.
There was no wanting again for them thereafter. Abhishek had a shot saved in the beginning of the second interval as India took full management. Three minutes earlier than half-time, former junior captain Uttam doubled the lead, slotting within the rebound after Mohammad Raheel’s try was saved.
India began the third quarter by including to their tally as Manpreet Singh discovered Abhishek on the prime of the circle, and he scored with a attribute half-turn and bullet shot to make it 3-0.
China didn’t lose coronary heart and weren’t shy in occurring the assault, though their ending was not on top of things. Then again, India may have widened the victory margin if that they had been a bit extra scientific in entrance of purpose.
No targets conceded was what happy skipper Harmanpreet essentially the most from the competition.
“We created some good possibilities however the very best half is that we stored a clear sheet,” he mentioned after the sport.
India face Japan of their second match on Monday. In different video games, Malaysia held Pakistan 2-2 whereas Japan and Korea shared the spoils in a 10-goal thriller.