Hangzhou: The Indian men’s hockey team mauled Bangladesh 12-0 helping their team to top the Pool A in the men’s hockey event at the Asian Games 2023 here on Monday.
On Wednesday, Team India will lock horns with the Pool B runners up in the Asian Games hockey semifinals.
Playing at the Gongshu Canal Sports Park Stadium, Harmanpreet Singh (2′, 4′ 32′) and Mandeep Singh 18′, 24′, 46) struck hat tricks, while Abhishek scripted a brace in the 41st and 57th minute.
Lalit Upadhyay (23’), Amit Rohidas (28’), Nilakanta Sharma (47’) and Sumit (56’) scored a goal each in India’s win in their final group stage hockey match.
Prior to this, India had thrashed Uzbekistan (16-0), Singapore (16-1) and Japan (4-2). They came into today’s match after pulversing arch-rivals Pakistan 10-2 on Saturday.
India took the fight to Bangladesh right from the beginning. Harmanpreet converted two penalty corners in quick succession to give India a 2-0 lead in the first quarter.
The Indian put Bangladesh under the pump in the second quarter as well before ratcheting up the third goal. Mandeep trapped a pass in the striking zone and
drilled it past the Bangladesh hockey team goalkeeper.
Minutes later, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay made 4-0 for India through a field goal. Mandeep Singh got his second of the match after he deflected Harmanpreet Singh’s drag-flick into the goal.
Amit Rohidas then converted a penalty corner to put India 6-0 up at half-time.
After the change of ends, Harmanpreet scored his hat-trick via a penalty corner. Abhishek, Mandeep, Nilakanta and Sumit added to India’s tally in the last two quarters to wrap up a big win.
