Thaindian News

Ordos (China), Sep 3 (IANS) India recorded a convincing 5-0 victory against hosts China to begin their campaign in style in the men’s Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament here Saturday.

The goal scorers were Gurvinder Singh Chandi (5th min), Yuvraj Walmiki (21st min), Rupinder Pal Singh (41st min), Rajpal Singh (43rd min) and V.R. Raghunath (62nd min).

India, who had drawn 1-1 in their previous meeting with China at the Azlan Shah Cup in May, began aggressively and did not let their opponents settle down.

Striker Chandi struck in the 5th minute while Mumbai youngster Walmiki scored his first international goal from atop the striking circle in the 21st minute to give India a 2-0 lead at half-time.

India continued the onslaught after the break with forays from the flanks, which put China on the backfoot.

The six-foot four-inch tall drag-flicker Rupinder increased the tally in the 41st minute with a powerful strike into the net.

Skipper Rajpal, who joined the squad after receiving the Arjuna Award at Delhi last Monday, did not disappoint after being set up by midfielder Ravi Pal to make it 4-0 in the 43rd minute.

The Indian tally was rounded off from another penalty corner conversion in the 62nd minute, courtesy Raghunath.

This was the first hockey international for Indian men under new coach Michael Nobbs who expressed happiness after the victory. “It is good that we have started off with an emphatic win,” he said.

The Indian men will next play Japan while the women will clash with South Korea Sunday.