In a stunning display of skill and prowess, the Indian men's hockey team decimated Uzbekistan with an astounding 16-0 victory in the Asian Games 2023 match held on Sunday, September 24th. This resounding win marked a spectacular beginning to India's campaign in the tournament. Notably, Mandeep Singh, Lalit Upadhyay, and Varun Kumar each secured impressive hat-tricks, leading the charge in thrashing Uzbekistan.
The goal fest included contributions from Lalith Upadhyay (7’, 24’ 37’, 53’), Varun Kumar (12’, 36’, 50’, 51’), Abhishek (17’), Mandeep Singh (18’, 27’, 28’), Amit Rohidas (38’), Sukhjeet (42’), Shamsher Singh (43’), and Sanjay (57’). This dominant victory catapulted India to the top of the table in Pool A, a promising start toward their quest for a semifinal berth.
Despite missing captain Harmanpreet Singh, the Indian team exhibited an attacking approach from the outset, forcing Uzbekistan into a defensive stance. Lalit Upadhyay initiated the scoring with a goal from a penalty corner just seven minutes into the match, setting the tone for the relentless performance that followed. Varun Kumar further bolstered India's lead to 2-0 after another penalty corner.
In a stellar second quarter, India surged ahead by 7-0 into halftime, and they continued their onslaught in the second half, netting an additional 9 goals, achieving an astonishing 16-0 victory. The Indian team is now geared up to face Singapore in their upcoming match on Tuesday. India entered the event as the third-ranked team in the FIH standings, buoyed by their triumph in the Asian Champions Trophy last month.