28 October 2026 Punjab Khabarnama Bureau : The Indian men’s hockey team began their title defence at the Hero Asian Champions Trophy Punjab 2026 with a commanding 13-0 victory over Bangladesh at the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar on Tuesday, October 27. Five-time champions India dominated from the opening whistle, delivering a memorable performance in front of an enthusiastic home crowd as international hockey returned to Punjab.
Mandeep Singh led the scoring with a hat-trick, while captain Harmanpreet Singh, Dilpreet Singh and vice-captain Hardik Singh scored twice each. The comprehensive victory gave India three points and placed them at the top of the standings after the opening day.
Harmanpreet and Mandeep give India an early advantage
India wasted little time establishing control of the contest. Captain Harmanpreet Singh opened the scoring in the second minute, converting a penalty corner with a powerful drag-flick.
Just a minute later, Mandeep Singh doubled India’s advantage with a reverse-hit after receiving a pass from Harmanpreet. Mandeep struck again in the 10th minute, putting India firmly in command.
Shilanand Lakra added the fourth goal in the 15th minute, before Abhishek found the net in the 18th minute. India’s pace, movement and accurate passing repeatedly troubled the Bangladesh defence, leaving the visitors struggling to contain the attack.
India went into half-time with a six-goal lead after Nilakanta Sharma scored in the 26th minute. The hosts had controlled the match for long periods, creating chances through both open play and penalty corners.
India continue the scoring after the break
Bangladesh attempted to settle into the contest during the third quarter, but India continued to create opportunities and maintain pressure.
Dilpreet Singh scored twice in quick succession in the 43rd and 44th minutes. Harmanpreet also converted another penalty corner in the 44th minute, taking India’s tally to nine goals.
Jugraj Singh added the 10th goal in the 46th minute with another successful penalty-corner conversion. The relentless Indian attack continued to test the visitors as the match entered its final quarter.
Mandeep completed his hat-trick in the 54th minute, turning in a cross from Aditya to register his third goal of the evening. The forward’s performance provided a major boost as India began their campaign with a strong display from their attacking unit.
Hardik Singh scored twice in the final minute, finding the net in the 60th minute and adding another goal moments later. His brace completed India’s 13-goal tally and sealed an emphatic opening victory.
Mandeep Singh leads India’s goal fest
Mandeep’s hat-trick was one of the standout performances of the match. His three goals came in the third, 10th and 54th minutes, helping India build their lead early and extend it during the closing stages.
Harmanpreet’s two goals underlined his importance in India’s penalty-corner attack, while Dilpreet’s quick double further exposed gaps in the Bangladesh defence. Hardik also made a significant contribution with his late brace.
Shilanand Lakra, Abhishek, Nilakanta Sharma and Jugraj Singh completed the list of Indian goalscorers. The spread of goals across the team demonstrated India’s attacking depth and ability to create scoring opportunities from different positions.
The result also gave the team an encouraging start to their attempt to retain the continental title. However, India will face tougher challenges as the tournament progresses, making consistency and defensive organisation important in the remaining matches.
Emotional evening for Punjab hockey
The match was particularly significant for Jalandhar, which hosted an international hockey tournament amid strong local support. Several members of the Indian squad have connections with the city and its hockey academies, making the occasion a memorable homecoming.
The opening ceremony featured traditional Punjabi performances, including Bhangra, Giddha and Gatka, alongside musical performances and fireworks. A drone show celebrating Punjab’s culture and sporting legacy added to the atmosphere.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann unveiled the tournament trophy before the match, marking the start of the competition. The packed stadium provided a lively backdrop as India produced one of the most dominant results of the opening day.
The evening also carried an emotional moment when midfielder Nilakanta Sharma announced that the tournament would be his final appearance in an India jersey, bringing attention to his contribution to Indian hockey.
India prepare for their next challenge
India will next face China on Thursday, October 29, at 7 pm IST in Jalandhar. The team will look to build on its strong opening performance while preparing for a different challenge against another side in the six-team competition.
The tournament follows a round-robin format, with each team facing the other five sides. The top four teams at the end of the league stage will advance to the semi-finals.
India finished the opening day with three points and a goal difference of plus 13. Malaysia defeated China 5-4, while Japan beat South Korea 3-2 in the other matches.
With a convincing victory already secured, India have made a powerful start to their title defence. The focus will now shift to maintaining that momentum as the competition moves towards the knockout stage.