Asian Champions hockey: India rout China

India scored a 5-0 victory over hosts China in their opening match, in the first men's Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament at Ordos, China, on Saturday.

Gurvinder Singh Chandi (5th minute), Yuvraj Walmiki (21st), Rupinder Pal Singh (41st), Rajpal Singh (43rd) and VR Raghunath (62nd) were the scorers.

India, who had drawn 1-1 in their previous meeting with China at the Azlan Shah Cup in May, began aggressively, giving their opponents no time to settle down.

Chandi struck in the fifth minute while Mumbai youngster Walmiki scored his first international goal from atop the striking circle in the 21st minute to give India a 2-0 lead at half-time.

India continued the onslaught after the break with forays from the flanks that caught China on the backfoot.

The six foot four inch drag flicker Rupinder Pal Singh increased the tally in the 41st minute with a powerful strike.

Skipper Rajpal, who joined the squad after receiving the Arjuna Award at Delhi last Monday, did not disappoint after being set up by midfielder Ravi Pal to make it 4-0 in the 43rd minute.

The Indian tally was rounded off from another penalty-corner conversion in the 62nd minute by VR Raghunath.

This was the first international for Indian men under new coach Michael Nobbs, who expressed happiness after the victory.

"It is good that we have started off with an emphatic win", he said.

The Indian men next play Japan, while the women will clash with Korea, on Sunday.

In an earlier match, the tournament opener, South Korea beat Japan 3-2.