India drub China 9-0 to go top

Kuantan, (Malaysia), Oct 25 

India thrashed China 9-0 to stay in the hunt for the top spot in the round-robin league stage of the fourth Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament here today. Akashdeep Singh, Affan Yousuf and Jasjit Singh scored two goals each as India steamrolled the Chinese defence. The Indians were looking to equal their 10-goal feat against Japan in this tournament.

Rupinder Pal Singh, captaining India in this contest, Nikkin Thimmaiah and Lalit Upadhyay scored one goal each as India boosted their points tally to 10 from four matches. India will take on hosts Malaysia tomorrow with both teams in contention for the top spot. Malaysia have nine points from three victories.

India went into this game without goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, who had picked up an ankle injury during the match against Pakistan. This paved the way for Akash Chikte, who did well to ward off two penalty corner shots in a game otherwise played in the Chinese territory.

Akashdeep opened the Indian account in the ninth minute when he intercepted a back-pass among the Chinese defenders and beat goalkeeper Wang Hong Yu with a shot from the top of the circle. Akashdeep was also in the picture for India’s second goal in the 18th minute as he squared the ball to an unmarked Yousuf after a brisk raid. Yousuf beat the goalkeeper with a wrong-foot push.

Jasjit swapped passes with Talwinder Singh in the scoring zone before scoring with a fine reverse shot in the 22nd minute before Rupinder converted India’s first penalty corner three minutes later to take his tournament tally to eight goals.

Rupinder also sent India’s second penalty corner into the net but the goal was cancelled after a video review sought by the Chinese team. 

Thimmaiah made it 5-0 after he got a short forward pass inside the circle from Surender Kumar in the 34th minute before China earned two successive penalty corners. Chikte did well to palm away a rising drag-flick from Cheng Xi Yuan in the 36th minute.

A minute later, Upadhyay shot on target for India’s sixth goal after receiving a square ball from Yousuf.

Akashdeep scored his second goal in the 39th minute as he picked the ball on the left flank and moved square to shoot home from the top of the circle.

China managed to earn their third penalty corner in the 40th minute but ended up conceding a goal at the other end. After a quick turnaround, Sardar Singh sent a deft cross from the left to an unmarked Yousuf in the circle and his quick strike went into the near corner. Jasjit rounded off the Indian scoring in the 51st minute.

Pakistan beat Japan 4-3

Defending champions Pakistan rode on two penalty corner goals from Muhammad Aleem Bilal to survive a scare and prevail 4-3 over Japan. Pakistan, who placed one foot into the semifinals with this victory, now have six points. — PTI 

Asian Champions Trophy

Results

• India 9 (Akashdeep 9’, 39’; Yousuf 19’, 40’; Jasjit 22’, 51’; Rupinder 25’; Thimmaiah 34’; Lalit 37’) China 0
• Pakistan 4 (Irfan Jr 5’; Bilal 12’, 52’; Rizwan Sr 36’) Japan 3 (S Tanaka 10’; K Tanaka 30’; Zendana 54’)  
• Standings

Team pl w d l gd pts

India 4 3 1 0 18 10

Malaysia 3 3 0 0 11 9

Pakistan 4 2 0 2 -1 6

Korea 3 1 1 1 1 4

China 4 1 0 3 -14 3

Japan 4 0 0 4 -15 0

Today’s matches

Korea vs Japan (4 pm)  

India vs Malaysia (6 pm)

Live on Star Sports