Defending champions India began their Asian Games campaign in emphatic fashion, thrashing Indonesia 13-1 in their Pool A opener in Kakamigahara, Japan, on Sunday.
Dilpreet Singh led the scoring spree with four goals, finding the net in the 18th, 19th, 37th and 49th minutes. Shilanand Lakra and Sukhjeet Singh contributed two goals apiece, while Abhishek, Rajinder Singh, Mandeep Singh, captain Harmanpreet Singh and Jugraj Singh scored one each.
Aulia Al Ardh scored Indonesia’s lone goal in the 33rd minute.
Asian Game 2026: Full Coverage | Schedule | News | Medals Table
India will face Sri Lanka in their next match on Tuesday.
The Indian men’s and women’s teams also took the field in their new primary saffron kits, rather than the traditional blue jerseys.
This came despite Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey’s claim that the teams would wear blue at the Asian Games. The saffron kits had previously been worn by both sides for the first time at the recent World Cup in the Netherlands and Belgium.
India needed only six minutes to open the scoring. Harmanpreet’s drag flick was saved by Indonesia goalkeeper Alam Fajar, but Lakra was alert enough to put away the rebound.
Abhishek then extended India’s advantage in the 12th minute, converting the rebound after Fajar had stopped the initial attempt.
Dilpreet got on the scoresheet six minutes later, finishing an assist from Abhishek to make it 3-0. He struck again in the following minute, directing Sukhjeet Singh’s pass into the net from the far post.
India quickly added another as Rajinder turned in a rebound after a fine attacking move involving Sukhjeet. Mandeep then made it 6-0 with another field goal two minutes later.
The defending champions had a chance to increase their lead further when Manpreet Singh was fouled inside the ‘D’ while attempting to score from a rebound, earning India a penalty stroke in the 27th minute. However, Fajar denied Harmanpreet with his outstretched right leg.
Harmanpreet made amends almost immediately, converting a penalty corner in the following minute to send India into the interval with a 7-0 advantage.
Indonesia managed to breach India’s defence soon after the restart, with Al Ardh scoring from a penalty corner in the 33rd minute.
The setback did little to alter the pattern of the contest, with India continuing to dictate proceedings. Lakra added his second in the 35th minute after receiving a well-measured pass from Rajinder.
Dilpreet completed his hat-trick two minutes later, reacting quickest after Fajar blocked the initial effort and pushing the rebound into the goal.
Sukhjeet followed shortly after, scoring from a field effort in the 38th minute.
India continued to pile on the pressure in the closing stages. Jugraj converted a penalty corner in the 47th minute, before Sukhjeet found the net again a minute later to complete his brace.
Dilpreet then capped his outstanding individual performance in the 49th minute, scoring his fourth goal to complete India’s 13-1 victory.
