Asian Champions Trophy 2024: India begins title defence with 3-0 victory over China
Indian men's hockey team Pic:X
Xtra Time Web Desk: The Indian men's hockey team launched their title defence in style, defeating hosts China 3-0 in the opening match of the Asian Champions Trophy. Sukhjeet Singh (14th minute), Uttam Singh (27th), and Abhishek (32nd) were the goal scorers for India, while China struggled to make an impact.
Coming off a strong showing at the Olympics, where they secured a second consecutive bronze, India dominated the game both offensively and defensively. Sukhjeet Singh opened the scoring just before the end of the first quarter, giving India the early advantage. Uttam Singh doubled the lead three minutes before half-time, putting India comfortably ahead 2-0 at the break.
Read More:
Chhetri's epic pass creates an unforgettable moment for fan
Just two minutes into the second half, Abhishek sealed the win with a stunning reverse hit, making it 3-0 for India. The Indian defence stood firm throughout the match, denying China any opportunity to score.
India, the reigning champions, secured their fourth title last year and remain the only team to win the tournament four times. They will face Japan in their second pool match on Monday.
Read More:
Paris Paralympics 2024: India's para Javelin thrower Navdeep Singh wins gold with 47.32 meters
In other matches, Malaysia held Pakistan to a thrilling 2-2 draw, while Japan and Korea played out a high-scoring 5-5 draw.
