The Indian men's hockey team rode on Dilpreet Singh's terrific hat-trick to clinch a thumping 9-0 victory against Bangladesh in their second match at the Asian Champions Trophy in Dhaka on Wednesday (December 15).
Dilpreet opened the goal spree in the 12th minute for the Tokyo Olympics bronze medallists and followed it up with two more goals in the 22nd and 45th minute. Jarmanpreet Singh also shone with a brace which was struck at 33rd and 43rd minute.
Beside the blitz from Dilpreet and Jarmanpreet, Lalit Upadhyay (28th) deflected in a variation from the vice-captain Harmanpreet Singh's flick from a penalty corner. Akashdeep Singh (54th) also found the back of the net. Mandeep Mor also scored his debut goal for the country in the 55th minute.
Harmanpreet was no less as he also chipped in with his name in the scoresheet, converting India’s 13th penalty corner in the 57th minute.
From the start, India attacked constantly and in the process secured as many as eight penalty corners but could convert just one.
Bangladesh played the waiting game and defended well with their goalkeeper Abu Nippon shining bright in set-piece situations.
In the 28th minute, India tripled their lead when Lalit deflected in Harmanpreet’s variation from a penalty corner. India extended their lead minutes after the change of ends when Jarmanpreet scored from a penalty corner.
The match was completely a lop-sided game as India mounted attacks after attacks on the Bangladesh goal.
The Manpreet Singh-led team inched ahead on the points table ahead of their battle against Pakistan.
Win after disappointing start
Earlier India were held to a 2-2 stalemate by Korea in their opening match despite taking a two-goal lead on December 14.
It looked game over for Korea after drag-flicker Harmanpreet Singh scored India’s second goal from a penalty corner in the 33rd minute. However, that goal seemed to have woken up the Koreans, who fought their way back into the match. It helped their cause that the Indian players were shown cards for rash tackling and indiscipline.
“This was the first match of the tournament and we will surely bounce back against Bangladesh,” skipper Manpreet Singh had said after the match and the team proved it against Bangladesh.
