Asia Cup Hockey kicks off in Dhaka as India beat Japan 5-1

India made a winning start in the Hero Asia Cup 2017 as the two-time champion outplayed Japan 5-1 in the event's inaugural game at Maulana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium in Dhaka on Wednesday. The opening match of Pool A also marked the return of Asia’s biggest hockey event to Dhaka after a span of 32 years. The match began with India going ahead with only three minutes into the clock through Sunil Sowmarpet but the delight lasted for only a minute when Kenji Kitazato cancelled the lead from a counter-attack.

? India thrash Japan in #AsiaCup2017 opener

?? 5-1 ??#INDvJAPLive: https://t.co/Ajyw0m86ga pic.twitter.com/2EDV3aPW92— FirstpostSports (@FirstpostSports) October 11, 2017

Lalit Upadhyay put India ahead again in the 23rd minute with a reverse hit before Ramandeep Singh extended the lead in the 32nd minute when his drive from the right-side deflected off Japan defender Genki Mitani before hitting the back of the net. India continued their domination in the third quarter as defender Harmanpreet Singh extended the lead to 4-1 from India’s second penalty corner and Harmanpreet completed the rout in the 48th minute from another penalty corner.

Hockey: Tournament favourites India to play against a confident Japan in #AsiaCup2017 in Dhaka pic.twitter.com/knUi90sESn

— Doordarshan News (@DDNewsLive) October 11, 2017

Bangladesh will face Pakistan in the second match of the same group at 5:30pm.RESULTIndia 5 (Sunil 3, Lalit 23, Ramandeep 32, Harmanpreet 31, 48) 1 Japan (Kenji 4)