Asia Cup: Hard-fought win for India in opener

FOR four minutes and change in Rajgir, the men's hockey team displayed a fragility, a weakness they hadn't shown in the last 16 months or so. China had taken the lead through a penalty corner but India had responded with three unanswered PC goals to seemingly enjoy relatively serene progress in the first match of their Asia Cup campaign in Bihar.

- ENS/AGENCIES @Rajgir

But the Chinese, a compact side who are known for their set-piece prowess in attack, levelled the game with one quarter. Like, hello. This wasn't supposed to be like this. The script suggested that the hosts, best in Asia in terms of ranking, were overwhelming favourites to win the competition, a World Cup qualifier.