China shock India in men's hockey

Doha: China stunned former champions India 3-2, pulling off the biggest upset ever in Asian Games men's field hockey competition.

Capitalising on India's defensive errors, strikers Hu Liang and Liu Xiantang made flash strikes in open play to give a two-goal lead to China, which then fell back in defence as India wasted chances.

Rajpal Singh's slap goal seconds before half-time kept India in the contest, but a penalty corner conversion by Chinese captain Song Yi in the 59th minute stretched the lead even as former champion India's attacks became more desperate.

Vokkaliga Raghunath's drag-flicked penalty corner conversion in the 61st minute kept India in the contest, but China hung on to the lead to post their maiden win against the subcontinental team.

Eight-time Olympic champion India now face the prospect of failing to make the Asian Games semi-finals for the first time, unless they can beat title holders South Korea, a 9-1 winner on Tuesday over Bangladesh.

"What can I say, this is a dream come true for us," said an overjoyed Song, China's captain.

China's coach Kim Sang-ryul, who was earlier the coach of South Korea, said the victory was a result of the growing self-belief among the Chinese players.

China "always had the skills, what they lacked was confidence," said Kim, under whose charge South Korea advanced to the final of the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

"This victory will transform Chinese men's hockey."

India coach Vasudevan Bhaskaran said his team paid the price for poor defence.

"Two defensive lapses left us trailing and then we wasted over a dozen chances," said Bhaskaran. "We were the better team on the pitch, but it is the result that matters.

"We will now have come back strongly against South Korea or we'll miss out of the semi-final."

The Chinese men drew inspiration for their women's team that defeated India 3-1 earlier on Tuesday.

In other women's matches, four-time champion South Korea thrashed Hong Kong 15-0 and medal-contender Japan fired in 12 goals without reply against Taiwan.

Ren Ye gave China's women an early lead through a field goal in the eighth minute before Fu Baorong bolstered the lead by scoring twice in open play in the second session. India pulled one goal back in through Surinder Kaur.