India’s Asia Cup opener against lower-ranked China ended in a narrow 4-3 victory on Friday in Rajgir, Bihar, despite a hat-trick from captain Harmanpreet.
Harmanpreet missed a penalty stroke but converted three penalty corners in the 20th, 33rd, and 47th minutes. Jugraj Singh was India’s other goal scorer (18th).
Shihao Du (12th), Benhal Chen (35th), and Jiesheng Gao (41st) scored for China.
India was on the winning side of the score, but the hosts had a bad day at work and were at fault for allowing China to enter the game.
Additionally, India wasted a lot of opportunities, only completing four of their eleven penalty corners.
As anticipated, India got out to a strong start and took the initiative to create their first opportunity. Sanjay was set up by Mandeep Singh, but Chinese goalie Weihao Yang stopped his attempt.
Following China’s referral, India continued to apply pressure and seconds later gained their first penalty corner, from which Mandeep scored. However, the goal was disallowed for a shove by the striker.
A few minutes later, the Chinese custodian saved Dilpreet Singh’s close-range reverse hit. Shihao Du gave China the lead with their first penalty corner in the 12th minute.
India had two more good chances a minute from the conclusion of the first quarter, but Wehao stopped Abhishek the first time, and captain Harmanpreet Singh missed the second penalty corner for the home team.
Three minutes into the second quarter, Jugraj’s flawless penalty corner convert gave India the lead again. India secured their fourth set piece two minutes later, and Harmanpreet scored with a strong dragflick this time.
The home team got another penalty corner a minute later but blew the opportunity. Soon after, China also had another penalty corner, but the shot missed.
As India secured three more minutes from halftime, it was raining penalty corners, but a diving Weihao to his left brilliantly stopped Harmanpreet’s flick.
India carried on from the first half and increased their lead three minutes into the third quarter thanks to another Harmanpreet penalty corner conversion.
But two minutes later, Benhai Chen of China equalized with a flick from a penalty corner that sailed past India keeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak’s legs.
India had a fantastic chance to increase their advantage in the 39th minute after being given a penalty stroke for a foul on Mandeep, but Harmanpreet struck the post.
Pathak was again found wanting, and two minutes later Jiesheng Gao converted a penalty corner to tie the score at 3-3, causing India to pay a big price for that blunder.
However, India was fortunate to get three consecutive penalty corners in the 47th minute, with Harmanpreet scoring the final one. India managed to collect another penalty corner three minutes before the final whistle, but they failed to score.
In the opening Pool A game, Japan thrashed a weak Kazakhstan 7-0.
Japan’s other goal scorers were Ryosuke Shinohara (54th), Kosei Kawabe (1st), Naru Kimura (5th), Ken Nagayoshi (48th), Shota Yamada (50th), and Koji Yamasaki (13th, 36th), who scored a brace.
Prior to the commencement of the India-China match, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar paid homage to Major Dhyanchand on the occasion of National Sports Day.
China will play Kazakhstan next, while India will play Japan on Sunday.
