#AsianGames2018 : Indian men’s hockey team scripts history defeating Hong Kong China by 26-0 and betters 86-year-old record

Jakarta, August 23: Historic! Indian men’s hockey team on Wednesday registered its biggest victory in international hockey by thrashing Hong Kong China by 26-0 in the Pool B match at the ongoing Asian Games being held in Jakarta, Indonesia. Registering 26-0 win over Hong Kong China, India bettered its 86-year-old record when it defeated USA with a 24-1 margin in Olympics.

 

Indian team exhibited their superiority over Hong Kong China and dominated the whole match. It was Rupinderpal Singh scored 5 goals in the match while Harmanpreet Singh scored 4 goals. Akashdeep Singh scored 3 goals, Manpreet Singh, Lalit Upadhayay and Varun Kumar scored two goals each. SV Sunil, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Mandeep Sinhgh, Amit Rohidas, Dilpreet Singh, Chinglensana Singh, Simranjeet Singh and Surender Kumar scored one goal each.

Indian eve began the match aggressively and did not show any mercy to their opponents, scoring four goals in the first five minutes of the match. India ended the first quarter with a comprehensive six-goal lead and made it 14-0 after adding eight in the second quarter. However, it turned out to be just a practice match for India, which had trounced hosts Indonesia 17-0 in their first pool match.

The play was restricted to Hong Kong China’s half and Indian captain P R Sreejesh, guarding the goal post, was not challenged even once. If goalkeeper Michael Chung had not made a few good saves in the third quarter, the scoreline could have been even more worse for Hong Kong China. While Sreejesh guarded the post in the first half, Krishan Bahadaur Pathak did the duty in the second.

India will next play Japan on Friday. Importantly, the record for biggest win in international hockey remains with New Zealand, who beat Samoa 36-1 in 1994.