Jalandhar: International hockey returned to Punjab with a spectacular victory for the Indian team. The Indian team, which came to defend the title in the Asian Champions Trophy on Tuesday, made a strong start to its wayfarers by defeating Bangladesh 13-0. In the match played at Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium, Indian players unexplored an warlike stance from the beginning. Mandeep Singh scored a hat-trick, while tutorage Harmanpreet Singh, Hardik Singh and Dilpreet Singh scored two goals each. Shilanand Lakra, Abhishek, Neelkant Sharma and Jugraj Singh moreover increased the margin of victory by scoring goals.
Had India taken tenancy of the match in the first half itself?
The Indian team put pressure on Bangladesh from the initial minutes and continuously created opportunities to score goals. Better coordination between the players and fast passing forced the opposing team's defence to retreat. Bangladesh counter-attacked on a few occasions, but the Indian defence did not requite them a endangerment to convert into goals. Along with India's aggression, the defence and goalkeeping were moreover constructive in the match.
Why did Neelkant Sharma signify his retirement?
Amidst India's big win, the utterance of experienced midfielder Neelkant Sharma was moreover in the news. The 31-year-old Manipur player said that he will retire from international hockey without the Asian Champions Trophy. He says that he wants to leave space for young players so that the new generation can get an opportunity to move forward in the Indian team. Neelkant has been a part of the Indian teams that won statue medals at the Tokyo Olympics and gold medals at the 2022 and 2026 Asian Games.
How was the performance of Malaysia and Japan in other matches?
On the opening day of the tournament, Malaysia registered a thrilling win by defeating China 5-4, while Japan defeated South Korea 3-2. India's next match will be versus China on 29 October. The five-time champion Indian team has recently returned without winning the gold medal in the Asian Games and will now want to win flipside title on home soil.
When will the matches be played in Jalandhar and Mohali?
Asian Champions Trophy matches are stuff organised in two cities of Punjab. Jalandhar's Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium will host the league stage matches from October 27 to November 2. Without this the tournament will reach Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium in Mohali. The semi-finals will be played here on 4th November and the statue medal and final matches will be played on 5th November.
Why is the return of hockey in Punjab special?
Punjab has long been considered the strong nursery of Indian hockey. Many villages in and virtually Jalandhar have given international-level players to the country. In such a situation, through this competition, the local spectators have got a endangerment to see the Indian team playing among them. The 13-0 win at home has given a unconfined start to India's wayfarers in the tournament. Now vision will be on the next match versus China.
