Sports/Alive News: India began their Asian Champions Trophy campaign with a commanding 13-0 victory over Bangladesh on Tuesday at the Olympian Surjit Singh Stadium. The match marked the first international hockey tournament hosted by the city, giving local fans plenty to celebrate.
Captain Harmanpreet Singh opened the scoring in the second minute, setting the tone for India’s dominant performance. The hosts scored four goals in the first quarter and went into half-time with a 6-0 lead.
Mandeep Singh was the standout performer, scoring three goals and creating three more. Harmanpreet also scored twice from penalty corners, while Shilanand Lakra, Abhishek, Nilakanta Sharma, Dilpreet Singh, Jugraj Singh and Hardik Singh contributed to the emphatic win.
Defenders Jarmanpreet Singh and Amit Rohidas also impressed, helping India maintain control throughout the match.
The occasion was particularly special for local supporters, as several players with links to the city featured among the scorers. A drone show highlighting the state’s culture, sporting history and heritage added to the celebrations.
In a significant announcement after the match, midfielder Nilakanta Sharma said he would retire at the end of the tournament.
Other Results
Malaysia defeated China 5-4 in another closely contested match. Abu Kamal Azrai scored twice, while Akhimullah Anuar, Faizal Saari and Azimuddin Kamaruddin also found the net for Malaysia.
Japan secured a 3-2 victory over South Korea. Kentaro Fukuda, Ryoma Ooka and Kazumasa Matsumoto scored for Japan, while Han Sangjun and Jeong Junseong scored for South Korea.
India’s emphatic opening win provided a strong start to their campaign in the continental tournament.
