Mandeep Singh (Image credit: X)
Five-time champions India began their title defence at the Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament in style, crushing Bangladesh 13-0 at the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium on Tuesday.
Mandeep Singh led the charge with a hat-trick, while captain Harmanpreet Singh, Dilpreet Singh and Hardik Singh scored two goals each.India dominated the match from the beginning, keeping most of the play inside Bangladesh’s half. Harmanpreet opened the scoring in the second minute with a powerful flick from a penalty corner. A minute later, Mandeep doubled the lead after receiving a clever pass from the skipper. Mandeep scored again in the 10th minute, while Shilanand Lakra made it 4-0 just before the first quarter ended.
India continued their attacking display in the second quarter, with Abhishek scoring in the 18th minute and Nilakanta Sharma adding another goal in the 26th minute. Despite a few good saves by Bangladesh goalkeeper Ashraful Shad, India went into half-time with a comfortable 6-0 lead.
India’s goal fest continues
The third quarter saw India increase the pressure further. Dilpreet Singh scored twice within a minute, finding the net first from a rebound and then with a powerful tomahawk shot.
Harmanpreet soon added his second goal of the match from a penalty corner, taking India’s tally to nine.Jugraj Singh scored early in the final quarter, before Mandeep completed his hat-trick in the 54th minute with a diving deflection. Hardik Singh then struck twice in the closing moments, scoring once from a rebound and once from open play to complete the 13-0 rout.The match also witnessed an unusual interruption when a stray dog entered the pitch and pooped on the turf, briefly delaying the start of the second quarter.Five-time champions India began their title defence at the Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament in style, crushing Bangladesh 13-0 at the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium on Tuesday. Mandeep Singh led the charge with a hat-trick, while captain Harmanpreet Singh, Dilpreet Singh and Hardik Singh scored two goals each.India dominated the match from the beginning, keeping most of the play inside Bangladesh’s half.
Harmanpreet opened the scoring in the second minute with a powerful flick from a penalty corner. A minute later, Mandeep doubled the lead after receiving a clever pass from the skipper. Mandeep scored again in the 10th minute, while Shilanand Lakra made it 4-0 just before the first quarter ended.India continued their attacking display in the second quarter, with Abhishek scoring in the 18th minute and Nilakanta Sharma adding another goal in the 26th minute.
Despite a few good saves by Bangladesh goalkeeper Ashraful Shad, India went into half-time with a comfortable 6-0 lead.
India’s goal fest continues
The third quarter saw India increase the pressure further. Dilpreet Singh scored twice within a minute, finding the net first from a rebound and then with a powerful tomahawk shot. Harmanpreet soon added his second goal of the match from a penalty corner, taking India’s tally to nine.
Jugraj Singh scored early in the final quarter, before Mandeep completed his hat-trick in the 54th minute with a diving deflection.
Hardik Singh then struck twice in the closing moments, scoring once from a rebound and once from open play to complete the 13-0 rout.The match also witnessed an unusual interruption when a stray dog entered the pitch and pooped on the turf, briefly delaying the start of the second quarter.India will next face China on Thursday as they look to continue their strong start to the tournament. Bangladesh, meanwhile, will take on Malaysia.India will next face China on Thursday as they look to continue their strong start to the tournament. Bangladesh, meanwhile, will take on Malaysia.