SKIPPER Harmanpreet Singh and striker Sukhjeet Singh scored abrace each in front of the home crowd as India defeated a youthful China 5-2 to register their second consecutive win at the Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament hereon Thursday. Sukhjeet (12th, 34th minutes) scored two fine field goals,while Harmanpreet (27th, 31st) converted two penalty corners for India. Jugraj Singh (47th) also found the net from aset piece for the hosts at the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium. The Chinese scored both their goals from penalty corners converted by Peng Yang (26th) and Chongcong Chen (36th). India had defeated Bangladesh 13-0 in their tournament opener,while China lost 4-5 against Asian Games silver medallist Malaysia 4-5 on Tuesday. India will next play Japan on Friday, while China will be up against South Korea.

 

The Indians controlled the proceedings from the word go and made plenty of circle penetrations but failed to create any real opportunity till the 13thminute. In the 13th minute, Jugraj’s perfect scoop from the deep found alonely Sukhjeet inside the Chinese circle, and the striker beautifully controlled the ball and lobbed it over Chinese goalkeeper Huanyu Wu to break the deadlock for India. China had their first chancein the form of a penalty corner in the 18th minute but the Indian defence was up to the task and denied the visitors. India then secured back-to back penalty corners in the 20th minute but failed to utilise the chances as skipper Harmanpreet flicked wide from the second effort. But credit must go to the youthful, in experienced Chinese side as it thwarted numerous raids from the Indians before equalising in the 26th minute from a penalty corner.