India thrash Japan 5-1, Pak bear B’desh 7-0

Title favourites India produced an impressive performance to outclass Japan 5-1 in their opening match at the 10th edition of the men’s Asia Cup hockey tournament at Dhaka. In their first tournament under coach Marijne Sjoerd, India meant business and found the net in each quarter to streamroll their less-fancied but tricky opponents. SV Sunil (3rd minute), Lalit Upadhyay (22nd), Ramandeep Singh (33rd) and Harmanpreet Singh (35th and 48th) were on target for India. Japan’s lone goal was scored by Kenji Kitazato’s in the 4th minute. India earned two more penalty corners in the final minutes but wasted both. Japan too secured two scoring chances in the dying minutes in the form of penalty corners but the Indian defence held the fort. In the second match, Pakistan thrashed hosts Bangladesh 7-0. India will next play Bangladesh in their next Pool A match on Friday.