Kakamigahara: India launched their bid for back-to-back Asian Games menโs hockey gold medals in emphatic fashion, thrashing Indonesia 13-1 in their opening Pool A match on Sunday.
The defending champions dominated from the outset, scoring twice in the first quarter before producing a five-goal burst in the second. Indonesia briefly pulled one back early in the third quarter, but India responded with six more goals to complete a comprehensive victory.
Dilpreet Singh led the scoring with four goals, while Shilanand Lakra and Sukhjeet Singh scored twice each. Abhishek Nain, Mandeep Singh, Rajinder Singh, Jugraj Singh and captain Harmanpreet Singh were also on the scoresheet.
India dominate from the opening quarter
India immediately took control of the contest and earned an early penalty corner in the fifth minute.
Harmanpreetโs drag-flick was saved by the Indonesian goalkeeper, but Shilanand Lakra reacted quickly to put away the rebound and give India a 1-0 lead.
India continued to press and doubled their advantage in the 12th minute. A series of passes inside the Indonesian circle created an opportunity for Abhishek Nain, who finished from close range.
India ended the opening quarter with a 2-0 lead, having largely kept Indonesia away from their defensive circle.
Five-goal second quarter
The floodgates opened in the second quarter as India repeatedly breached the Indonesian defence.
Dilpreet Singh scored twice in quick succession, finding the net in the third and fourth minutes of the quarter. Rajinder Singh then converted a rebound shortly afterwards to make it 5-0.
Mandeep Singh added another in the sixth minute with a powerful strike from the left side of the circle.
India continued to create opportunities and earned a penalty stroke, but Harmanpreet was denied by the Indonesian goalkeeper.
The Indian captain made amends soon after, however, scoring from a penalty corner with another powerful drag-flick.
India went into half-time with a commanding 7-0 advantage after scoring five goals in the second quarter.
Indonesia pull one back after half-time
Indonesia produced a brief surprise at the start of the third quarter when they earned their first penalty corner of the match.
Their captain converted with an aerial drag-flick, with the ball taking a slight deflection off an Indian defender on the goal line before finding the net.
The goal did little to change the momentum of the match.
India responded almost immediately, with Rajinder Singh setting up Shilanand Lakra, who fired the ball into the net to restore Indiaโs seven-goal advantage.
Dilpreet completes hat-trick
Dilpreet Singh then added another to complete his hat-trick, following up after the Indonesian goalkeeper saved an initial effort.
The goal marked Dilpreetโs fourth international hat-trick.
Sukhjeet Singh soon joined the scoring, taking Indiaโs tally into double figures as the third quarter ended with India leading 10-1.
India add three more in final quarter
India continued their attacking pressure in the fourth quarter.
Jugraj Singh scored from a penalty corner early in the period to make it 11-1 before Sukhjeet Singh added his second goal of the match for Indiaโs 12th.
Dilpreet then completed his four-goal haul in the fourth minute of the quarter, receiving a long pass from Harmanpreet Singh after Abhishekโs deflection and slotting the ball home.
India eventually closed out the match 13-1, with seven goals coming in the first half and six in the second.
India face Sri Lanka next
The victory gives India an ideal start to their campaign as they seek another Asian Games menโs hockey gold.
India are in Pool A alongside Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Japan and Bangladesh, with the top two teams progressing to the semi-finals.
Indiaโs next match will be against Sri Lanka, ranked 38th, with the defending champions looking to build on their opening-day goal haul.
India have won menโs hockey gold at two of the last three Asian Games editions and are also the defending menโs Asia Cup champions.
The 13-1 victory therefore provides a strong opening statement from Harmanpreet Singh and his team as they begin their campaign to retain the Asian Games title.