Reigning champions India defeated Malaysia 4-0 in their Women's Asian Champions Trophy Hockey tournament opening match at Rajgir Bihar on Monday. For the host  Sangita Kumari (8th, 55th minutes), Preeti Dubey (43rd) and Udita (44th) were the goal scorers to ensure maximum points. India will next play South Korea.  that saw India create numerous opportunities and put on a solid defensive performance to walk away with three points.

India were slow to start the game and Malaysia’s Nur Mohd was presented with the first opportunity to score after a clever run in behind the defence but Indian goalkeeper Savita was on hand to bail the team out and save them from early blushes. Malaysia earned a penalty corner soon after but the shot was deflected wide. Jolted into action, India wrestled back control over the ball and earned two penalty corners in quick succession and Sangita made it count on the second one from close range to ensure a 1-0 lead for India. India continued to press the Malaysian team and created two chances for Preeti Dubey to score but she was unable to convert. Captain Salima Tete earned a penalty corner with 10 seconds to go but India couldn’t capitalise.

India pressed their advantage in the second quarter, constantly probing into the opposition circle and sending the defence into a scramble but were unable to find the finishing touch through Lalremsiami.

It was a tale of missed opportunities for a major portion of the third quarter before  they made a successful penalty corner conversion with three minutes left and Navneet Kaur rocketed the ball to Preeti Dubey, whose angled stick deflected the ball into goal and doubled India’s lead. This was followed up by another penalty corner, this time Udita stepped up to sound the backboard and make it 3-0 for India ahead of the last quarter.

India pressed on for more goals in the fourth quarter. Sangita who weaved past two defenders into the shooting circle unleashed a reverse tomahawk to make it a brace for her on the day and end the game in India’s favour.

In other matches of the day, Japan and Korea played out a 2-2 draw, while Olympic silver medallist China thrashed Thailand 15-0.