Big win for hockey side
Guangzhou, Nov. 15: India and hosts China began their Asian Games men’s field hockey campaign with identical 7-0 wins on Monday, while Japan came from behind to secure full points.
India thrashed Hong Kong and China blanked Oman, Japan fought back after conceding an early goal to down Bangladesh 3-1 and Malaysia beat Singapore 3-0 in the opening day’s action.
Sandeep Singh converted two penalty corners as India, silver-medallists at last month’s Commonwealth Games, toyed with lowly Hong Kong.
Singh scored both goals in the first half after Bharat Kumar had put India ahead in the second minute of the Group B encounter.
Sarvanjit Singh gave the Indians a 4-0 lead by half-time, which was built on after resumption through goals from Tushar Khandker, Arjun Halappa and Shivendra Singh.
India are hoping to avoid the humiliation they suffered at the Doha Asiad four years ago where they went without a medal and subsequently failed to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The winners — and possibly the runners-up — will earn a direct entry to the 2012 London Olympic Games.
Pic Caption:
Dharamvir Singh (centre) tries to dribble past Hong Kong defenders in India’s 7-0 win in the men’s hockey Group A match in Guangzhou on Monday.
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