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Harmanpreet Singh First Statement: Indian hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh has said that his team got a lot of opportunities against China. But the team could not redeem it. However, he hoped that this would not happen in the upcoming matches. Harmanpreet completed 3 goals against China in the Hockey Asia Cup match.
The Indian hockey team defeated China in their first match of the Hockey Asia Cup held in Rajgir, Bihar. India won this match but many flaws of the team also appeared on the field. Captain Harmanpreet Singh admitted that his team made some mistakes which should not have done. Since the team won this match. So he expressed happiness.
Despite the hat -trick of captain Harmanpreet Singh, the Indian team’s performance against the lower ranked China in the first match of Asia Cup hockey was disappointing. For India, Harmanpreet scored goals at penalty corners in the 20th, 33rd and 47th minute. While Jugraj Singh scored in the 18th minute. Harmanpreet missed a penalty stroke during this period.
The Indian team may have won the match for the last two -time Olympic bronze medalist, but the performance was very poor and gave China opportunities to stay in the match. The Indian team could redeem only four penalty corners out of 11. India made an aggressive start and made the first chance on the first move. Mandeep Singh handed over the ball to Sanjay but Chinese goalkeeper Weihao Yang saved his shot. India maintained pressure and also achieved the first penalty corner. Mandeep had scored a goal at this but after the referral of China, he was called invalid.
A few minutes later, Dilpreet Singh set a reverse hit nearly but the Chinese goalkeeper saved him. China made an increase in the 12th minute on the first penalty corner. India had an opportunity again with the first quarter to remain a minute, but first Abhishek’s shot was saved by Vehao and then Harmanpreet’s flick on the second penalty corner left from outside. Within three minutes of the second quarter, India equaled when Jugraj scored a goal. Two minutes later, India got the fourth penalty corner and this time Harmanpreet did not make any mistake.
Another penalty corner found a minute later went waste. China got another penalty corner but the shot went out. India again got a penalty corner three minutes before the HafTime but Harmanpreet’s flicks was saved by Weihao by diving on the left side. In the third minute of the third quarter, India confirmed the increase in Harmanpreet’s goal. Two minutes later, however, Chen scored a goal on the penalty corner for China.
India had a chance to score another goal in the 39th minute but on a penalty stroke, Harmanpreet was targeted and the ball collided with the post. India had to bear the brunt of it, since two minutes later, China had equaled 3-3 on the goal of singing.
India got two consecutive penalty corners in the 47th minute, out of which Harmanpreet scored the second. Three minutes before the last whistle, India got another penalty corner which went in vain. India will take on Japan on Sunday in their second match.
