India dominated their opening match from the first whistle, putting Bangladesh under pressure with quick attacks and effective finishing. Captain Harmanpreet Singh opened the scoring through a penalty corner before Mandeep Singh doubled the lead. Mandeep went on to complete a hat-trick, while Harmanpreet, Dilpreet Singh and Hardik Singh scored two goals each. Shilanand Lakra, Abhishek, Nilakanta Sharma and Jugraj Singh were also among the scorers as India secured a convincing win.
The upcoming clash against China is likely to offer a more competitive challenge. China finished as runners-up in the previous edition of the tournament after India defeated them 1-0 in the final. Jugraj Singh scored the winning goal in that contest, helping India secure their fifth Asian Champions Trophy crown. The Indian team will now look to repeat that performance and maintain their momentum in front of home supporters.
India, coached by Craig Fulton and led by Harmanpreet, enter the competition after successfully defending their Asian Games gold medal. They are targeting a third successive Asian Champions Trophy title and a sixth overall. However, the team will have to manage its campaign without experienced midfielder Manpreet Singh, who was ruled out due to a calf injury. Vivek Sagar Prasad has replaced him in the squad.
The tournament features six teams competing in a round-robin league, with the top four advancing to the semi-finals. India will face Japan, Malaysia and South Korea after their match against China, making consistency crucial throughout the group stage.
Following their dominant performance against Bangladesh, India will hope to maintain their attacking rhythm while staying organised defensively against China. A second consecutive victory would strengthen their position in the standings and bring them closer to securing a semi-final place as they pursue another title on home soil.
