Event: Asian Champions Trophy 2023
Result: India beat China 7-2
Location: Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium, Chennai
India’s hockey skippers, Varun Kumar, and Harmanpreet Singh, netted two goals each for their team. They pushed team India toward a fabulous win against China in the opening match of an Asian Hockey Champions Trophy 2023 at Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium in Chennai. Players of team India took the early lead of 2-0 in the first quarter of the match.
Captain Harmanpreet Singh unveiled his expertise in the penalty corner and netted two goals in the 5th and 8th minutes of the match. Without wasting any time, Indian players take control of the game. Varun Kumar solidified the lead of team India by netting two penalty goals in the 19th and 30th minutes. Meanwhile, Sukhjeet ended the first quarter of the match by giving his team the lead of 3-0.
After starting the second quarter, Akashdeep Singh netted a goal with the help of Manpreet Singh in just after two minutes of the second quarter and pushed team India by a 4-0 lead. However, Chinese hockey player Wenhui took advantage when Varun failed to stop an aerial ball; Wenhui shot a goal. But this goal hardly affected the team India as Varun Kumar took his revenge by converting the penalty corner to gain the lead of 5-1 for his team.
However, the Chinese player Jiesheng Gao played well to beat the PC defense of India and gave his team an essential second goal for a comeback in the game. Varun Kumar ended the second quarter with his goal in the last minute.
At the beginning of the third quarter, China improved its defense action. The Chinese hockey team played with all new spirit and confidence as they got the two goals in the second quarter. Indian players need ten minutes in the third quarter to look for an opening in the striking circle. In the 40th minute of the game, Indian striker Mandeep Singh scored the 7th goal for India. However, this goal of Mandeep Singh was his 100th goal in an international match.
With the lead of 7-2, India enters the game’s final quarter. However, India had opportunities in the last quarter. However, the Chinese goalkeeper, Ciayu Wang, played well and successfully stopped the Indian Hockey Team for their other goals of the match.
Awards:
- Harmanpreet Singh was honored with the $3000 cheque by the president of International Hockey Federation, Dato Tayyab Ikram, as he was the top scorer in yesterday’s match during the post match presentation.
- Mandeep Singh was awarded the Hero Player, and Vivek Sagar Prasad was awarded the Younger Player of the Match.