India beat China 5-2 (Image: ANI)
Chongcong Chen converted their fourth penalty corner with a well-executed variation, bringing the score to 4-2 and keeping the visitors in contention. The hosts then won two successive penalty corners in the 20th minute, only for Harmanpreet to miss the target with his second attempt. China earned their first penalty corner in the 18th minute, but India’s defence held firm. China refused to surrender and reduced the deficit in the 36th minute.
India, who had opened their campaign with a commanding 13-0 win over Bangladesh, had to work harder against a youthful Chinese side but eventually secured their second consecutive victory. A minute later, Harmanpreet restored the hosts’ lead with a powerful, low flick from their third penalty corner to make it 2-1. Harmanpreet converted two penalty corners, while Sukhjeet scored twice from open play. Jugraj Singh added the fifth goal with another successful set-piece conversion. India dominated possession and made repeated circle entries from the opening whistle but struggled to create clear-cut chances in the early stages. The breakthrough finally arrived in the 13th minute when Jugraj produced a superb scoop from deep to find Sukhjeet inside the Chinese circle. The forward controlled the ball brilliantly before lifting it over goalkeeper Huanyu Wu. The young Chinese side continued to frustrate India’s attacks and drew level in the 26th minute. Peng Yang converted their second penalty corner with a drag-flick past goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak. India responded almost immediately. India continued to press for more goals. Jugraj saw one of his penalty-corner attempts saved by Wu, but the defender made amends in the 47th minute, unleashing a powerful, grounded flick from a set piece to restore India’s three-goal advantage.