JALANDHAR — The Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium bore witness to another clinical display of prowess as India’s men’s hockey team navigated a gritty challenge from China, securing a 5-2 victory to maintain their unblemished record at the Asian Champions Trophy.
Following a gargantuan 13-0 curtain-raiser against Bangladesh, the Indian squad, spearheaded by skipper Harmanpreet Singh, proved that they possess not just the firepower to overwhelm opponents, but the tactical maturity to absorb pressure and respond with precision when pushed. Thursday’s encounter was a stern test of patience for the hosts, who had to work significantly harder against a youthful and resilient Chinese outfit that refused to play the role of mere spectators.
Sukhjeet Breaks the Deadlock
From the opening whistle, the intensity was palpable. India looked to dictate the tempo early, frequently penetrating the Chinese circle with fluid, high-paced transitions. However, the Chinese defensive structure remained disciplined, forcing India to rethink their approach.
The breakthrough finally materialized in the 13th minute. It was a masterclass in aerial distribution and clinical finishing: Jugraj Singh unleashed a pinpoint scoop from deep within the midfield, effectively bypassing the first layer of Chinese resistance to find Sukhjeet Singh. The forward displayed supreme composure, controlling the ball with his first touch before deftly lifting it over the onrushing goalkeeper, Huanyu Wu.
The goal ignited the crowd, but China’s response was immediate and focused. Showing no signs of intimidation, the visitors forced India onto the back foot, earning a penalty corner in the 18th minute. While India’s defensive unit successfully nullified that threat, the pressure began to shift. By the 26th minute, the persistent Chinese attack earned their reward when Peng Yang converted a penalty corner, finding the back of the net past Krishan Bahadur Pathak to level the score at 1-1.
The deadlock was short-lived, however. Just a minute later, in a testament to the side’s lethal efficiency, Harmanpreet Singh reminded the stadium why he is considered one of the world’s premier drag-flickers. Connecting perfectly with a penalty corner, the captain hammered a low, powerful flick that restored India’s lead just before the halftime whistle.
Extending the Advantage
Coming out of the break with renewed vigor, India looked to put the contest beyond doubt early in the second half. Barely sixty seconds into the third quarter, Harmanpreet struck again. His second penalty corner of the evening was a carbon copy of the first—grounded, accurate, and unstoppable—extending India’s lead to 3-1.
The relentless pace continued as Sukhjeet Singh registered his brace in the 34th minute. The move began with an exquisite aerial ball from Harmanpreet near the halfway line, which was expertly controlled by Aditya Arjun Lalage. Lalage’s vision allowed him to find Sukhjeet, who finished the sequence with the poise of a veteran striker, pushing the scoreline to 4-1.
Despite the mounting deficit, China refused to fold. Their perseverance paid dividends in the 36th minute when Chongcong Chen converted a well-rehearsed penalty corner variation, narrowing the gap to 4-2. The goal breathed new life into the Chinese side, forcing India to tighten their ranks and reassess their strategy for the final fifteen minutes.
Clinical Finish and Looking Ahead
India continued to push for additional cushion, constantly harrying the Chinese circle. While Huanyu Wu made a commendable save against a previous attempt by Jugraj Singh, the defender would not be denied a second time. In the 47th minute, Jugraj stepped up for a set-piece and unleashed a thunderous, grounded flick that left the defense helpless, restoring a three-goal advantage at 5-2.
The closing stages saw India manage the clock effectively, though they remained dangerous until the final horn. Harmanpreet came close to a hat-trick with two minutes remaining, but his attempt was thwarted by an alert Wu.
With two wins in as many matches, India’s campaign is gaining significant momentum. While the 13-0 scoreline against Bangladesh served as a statement of intent, the 5-2 victory against China provided a better diagnostic of the team’s defensive resilience and reaction to adversity.
For China, the search for their first points of the tournament continues following their narrow 4-5 loss to Malaysia earlier in the week. They now look forward to a challenging fixture against South Korea.
India, meanwhile, remains on a collision course with the rest of the field, with their sights firmly set on Friday’s encounter against Japan. If Thursday’s performance is any indication, coach and team are hitting their stride at the perfect time, blending individual brilliance from the likes of Harmanpreet and Sukhjeet with a collective work rate that makes them the team to beat in this edition of the Asian Champions Trophy.
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