International hockey returned to Punjab after 17 years on Tuesday as a packed Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar saw India launch their Asian Champions Trophy title defence by blanking Bangladesh 13-0. Roared on by an enthusiastic home crowd and Punjabi music playing, the hosts put on a show of pace, precision and skill.
The Asian Games champions overwhelmed Bangladesh, a late replacement after Pakistan pulled out. Mandeep scored a hat-trick and Harmanpreet two goals.
Mandeep made it 2-0, constantly harassing the opposing defenders with his positioning and movement in the circle. In the second quarter, Mandeep set up Abhishek to make it 5-0 before Nilakanta Sharma added another. Bangladesh attempts to push forward, especially down the right, didn’t bear fruit as India went into half-time 6-0 up. Dilpreet, who converted the rebound, struck again to make it 8-0. Harmanpreet added his second goal with another drag-flick, making it 9-0. The fourth quarter saw Jugraj Singh become India’s seventh different scorer before Mandeep completed his hat-trick after a well-worked team move, making it 11-0. Malaysia beat China 5-4. Japan overcame Korea 3-2.
Harmanpreet put India ahead within two minutes, converting a penalty corner with a powerful drag-flick. He scored again after Harmanpreet initiated an incisive move that picked out Abhishek. The fourth goal came at the end of the first quarter. Aditya Lad was involved in the finish, but Shilanand Lakra was credited with the goal after appearing to get the final touch. India’s seventh goal came after a Harmanpreet drag-flick was blocked. Abu Kamal Azrai (4th min, 14th), Akhimullah Anuar (14th), Faizal Saari (34th pen) and Azimuddin Kamaruddin (35th) scored for Malaysia. Yaqi Wang (11th), Moda Ne (12th) and Benhai Chen (27th, 44th) were China’s scorers. Kentaro Fukuda (14th), Ryoma Ooka (36th) and Kazumasa Matsumoto (52nd) scored for Japan. Korea’s Sangjun Han (15th) and Junseong Jeong (59th) were the scorers.
