Defending champions India beat Malaysia 4-0 in their opening match of the women’s Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament here on Monday. India scored through Sangita Kumari (8th, 55th minutes), Preeti Dubey (43rd) and Udita (44th). India will next play South Korea on Tuesday. In other matches of the day, Japan and Korea played out a 2-2 draw, while Olympic silver medallist China thrashed Thailand 15-0. 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. On the second occasion, after a fumbled stop, Deepika shot the ball towards the goal and Sangita Kumari was alert to slot the ball into goal from close range and make it 1-0 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.

India then proceeded to slow down the tempo in search of a clear goal-scoring chance. Lalremsiami earned a penalty corner with a blazing run down the baseline with four minutes left for half time but Neha’s shot sailed wide of the post. They even earned a penalty corner at the stroke of halftime but failed to change the scoreline.

The game played out in a similar fashion in the third quarter with Deepika earning a penalty corner soon after the start but Navneet Kaur’s shot from a variation was easily swatted away.

Against the run of play, Malaysia drew a penalty corner but Savita was alert again to stop the attempt at her goal. On the other hand, India continued to look for an opening. They earned another penalty corner 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 and earned a penalty corner with 10 minutes left in the game although, goalkeeper Siti Nasir stopped Udita’s attempt this time. With more control in the game, India continued to peg Malaysia back in its own half and create chances. India embarked on another quick transition with Sangita who weaved past two defenders into the shooting circle and unleashed a reverse tomahawk to make it a brace for her on the day and end the game in India’s favour.

Having struggled to win matches the entire year, the Indian women’s hockey team will look to start afresh in a new Olympic cycle by defending its Asian Champions Trophy (ACT) title at home, beginning with a clash against lower-ranked Malaysia in Rajgir, Bihar on Monday. India have won the title twice in 2016 (Singapore) and 2023 (Ranchi) in the seven editions of the tournament so far. After failing to qualify for the Paris Olympics, the Indian team lost 13 matches and won just two (with one draw) out of 16 in the women’s FIH Pro League this year, but will hope to make a turnaround in their fortune with a strong performance in the ACT.

India have fielded a mixed team, consisting of youth and experienced players for the tournament under the leadership of Salima Tete. Striker Navneet Kaur will serve as Salima’s deputy as India enter the competition with high expectations.

The team will face stiff competition from five other nations, including reigning Olympic silver-medallists China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia and Thailand, in the battle for continental supremacy.

The Indian defence will be anchored by a solid line-up, featuring Udita, Jyoti, Ishika Chaudhary, Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam and Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke.

In the mid-field, captain Tete will be supported by Neha, Sharmila Devi, Manisha Chauhan, Sunelita Toppo, and Lalremsiami, all known for their dynamic play.

The forward line-up has the likes of Navneet Kaur, Sangita Kumari, Deepika, Preeti Dubey and Beauty Dungdung leading the charge.

The goalkeeping duties will be shared between the experienced Savita — also former captain — and rising talent Bichu Devi Kharibam.

Sushila and Beauty Dungdung will be making a return to the team after successfully completing their rehabilitation.

The Indians will definitely start as one of the favourites in the tournament, along with reigning Olympic silver medallist China, who are ranked sixth in the world.

South Korea are the most successful team in the tournament having won it thrice, while Japan had won it twice.

It’s the start of a new journey for the Indian women’s hockey team after having missed out on qualification for the Paris Olympics.

Salima’s team, under new coach Harendra Singh, will aim to bury the ghosts of the past and start a new journey with LA 2028 in focus.

Salima had captained the Indian team in the European leg of the Pro League earlier this year, where it fared poorly.

Salima attributed the team’s downward spiral to the lack of fitness and mental toughness.

After creating history in Tokyo in 2021, the team failed to qualify for the Paris Olympics this year and also performed poorly in the last FIH Pro League. “Yes, of course we were disappointed but we can’t think about the past and need to move forward. We should move on because if we don’t move on, we can never win a match,” Salima had told PTI.

“We had to start from the beginning. We had to start from the scratch. And fitness was an area that Harendra sir (coach Herendra Singh) had pointed out and which needs a lot of work,” she said.

“It was our mistake that we didn’t work on fitness. But since sir came, we have worked a lot on our fitness. In today’s level, if you don’t have fitness, you can’t play hockey because it is a fast sport and you need fitness.” Salima said the entire squad now realises the importance of fitness.

In Monday’s other matches, Japan will play South Korea in the tournament opener, followed by the game between China and Thailand.

The timings of the matches have been rescheduled in view of potential havoc due to a large insect infestation under floodlights.

As per the revised schedule, the first match of the day will start at 12.15pm, followed by the second at 2.30pm, and the last at 4.45pm. Previously, the matches were slated for evening slots at 3pm, 5.15pm and 7.30pm.