JAKARTA, Aug 22: The Indian men�s hockey team today recorded its biggest ever win in international hockey as it annihilated Hong Kong China 26-0 in a Pool B match of the Asian Games, bettering an 86-year-old mark here.
Defending champions India bettered its record set way back in 1932 when the national team, which had legendary Dhyan Chand, Roop Singh and Gurmeet Singh, thrashed USA 24-1 in the Olympics at Los Angeles. The record for the biggest win remains with New Zealand, who beat Samoa 36-1 in 1994. Such was their dominance that with seven minutes to go India took its goalkeeper off the field.
As many as 13 Indian players registered their names in the scoresheet today.
Rupinderpal Singh (3rd, 5th, 30th, 45th, 59th minute), Harmanpreet Singh (29th, 52nd, 53rd, 54th) and Akashdeep Singh (2nd, 32nd, 35th) scored a hat-trick each, while Manpreet Singh (3rd, 17th), Lalit Upadhayay (17th, 19th), Varun Kumar (23rd, 30th), SV Sunil (7th), Vivek Sagar Prasad (14th), Mandeep Singh (21st), Amit Rohidas (27th), Dilpreet Singh (48th), Chinglensana Singh (51st), Simranjeet Singh (53rd) and Surender Kumar (55th) were the other goal getters for India.
It was always expected to be a lop-sided affair between World No. 5 India and World No. 45 Hong Kong China and it turned out to be exactly the same.
With a keeper-less Indian goalpost to attack, Hong Kong China earned its first chance to get on when they earned their first penalty corner but India went for the review which turned out to be successful.
India�s chief coach Harendra Singh was happy for his players and said they are now part of a legacy which will always be remembered in the history of Indian hockey.
�For me it does not matter, but for the players it is a proud moment. When history will be discussed, the names of these 18 players will be there. The record is always for the players,� Harendra told reporters. � PTI
