Asian Champions Trophy: Mandeep hat-trick as India open title defence with 13-0 rout of Bangladesh in Jalandhar

India began the defence of their Asian Champions Trophy title with a 13-0 win over Bangladesh at the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar on 27 October. The five-time champions were 6-0 up at half-time, and eight different players found the net.

Captain Harmanpreet Singh opened the scoring in the second minute and Mandeep Singh added the second a minute later. Mandeep, searching for form, struck again in the 10th minute and completed his hat-trick in the 54th. Shilanand Lakra, Abhishek and Nilakanta Sharma scored in the second quarter, which started late after a stray dog ran onto the pitch and fouled the turf.

Three goals in two minutes

The second half brought the same one-way traffic. Dilpreet Singh scored twice in the 43rd and 44th minutes, with Harmanpreet’s second goal arriving in between, and Jugraj Singh converted in the 46th. Vice-captain Hardik Singh then scored twice in the final minute.

Play stayed almost entirely in Bangladesh’s half. Their goalkeeper Ashraful Shad kept the score from growing further with two saves in the second quarter, denying Nilakanta and Mandeep.

India meet China in their next match on 29 October, while Bangladesh take on Malaysia.