Two braces seal the win

India beat China 5-2 at the Asian Champions Trophy on 29 October, maintaining their strong start to the tournament. Sukhjeet Singh scored twice, in the 12th and 34th minutes, and captain Harmanpreet Singh added two penalty-corner goals in the 27th and 31st minutes. Jugraj Singh completed the scoring for India.

The win keeps India in a strong position in the tournament standings and continues a run of attacking form built around the penalty-corner threat of Harmanpreet, one of world hockey's most prolific drag-flickers.

Japan next

India were next scheduled to face Japan on 30 October at 7 pm IST, in a fixture that will test them against one of Asia's fastest-improving sides. China, beaten 5-2, will look to regroup after conceding five times to the tournament favourites.

The Asian Champions Trophy brings together Asia's leading men's hockey nations in a round-robin followed by classification matches, and serves as a key benchmark ahead of next year's major international fixtures. For India, the emphatic margin matters as well as the points: goal difference can decide tight round-robin standings, and a five-goal display against a direct rival strengthens their position before the Japan test. China, meanwhile, must tighten a defence that conceded twice from penalty corners and twice in open play within the first 35 minutes.

Sources: Tournament reporting via daily current affairs summary