Captain Harmanpreet Singh rose to the event with a hat-trick of penalty corners as India edged previous China 4–3 in a tense Pool A conflict to open their Asian Cup hockey marketing campaign on a profitable word on Friday in Rajgir, Bihar. China struck first by Du Shihao within the twelfth minute, placing the hosts beneath stress early. However India hit again strongly within the second quarter with fast targets. Jugraj Singh equalised within the 18th minute, and simply two minutes later, Harmanpreet transformed his first penalty nook handy India a 2–1 lead at half-time. The benefit stretched additional within the thirty third minute when the Indian skipper unleashed his trademark drag flick, beating the Chinese language goalkeeper regardless of a partial save. At 3–1, the momentum appeared firmly in India’s favour. Nonetheless, China refused to again down. Chen Benhai pulled one again within the thirty fifth minute with a penalty nook conversion, and Gao Jiesheng struck once more within the forty second to degree the competition heading into the ultimate quarter. With the sport within the steadiness, Harmanpreet as soon as once more delivered. Within the forty seventh minute, he powered residence his third penalty nook, restoring India’s lead and finishing his hat-trick. The strike proved decisive as India held on regardless of late stress from the Chinese language forwards. The 4–3 end result gave the hosts a vital opening victory of their Pool A marketing campaign, although the match highlighted areas for enchancment in defence in opposition to set-piece conditions. Harmanpreet’s scientific ending from penalty corners, nonetheless, underlined his standing as among the best drag sparkles.
Ballot
Do you imagine India can preserve their profitable momentum within the Asia Cup?
India will now look to construct on the hard-fought win as they put together for his or her remaining group-stage matches within the match. Their subsequent Pool A fixture is in opposition to Japan on August 31, Sunday.