Dilpreet nets four as India beat Indonesia 13-1 in Asian Games Pool A opener

India opened their Asian Games 2026 campaign with a 13-1 victory over Indonesia in a Pool A match at Kawasaki Juko Stadium on Sunday. Dilpreet Singh scored four times and eight different Indian players got on the scoresheet in a one-sided fixture.

The match began with India asserting control early as Shilanand Lakra converted a rebound from Harmanpreet Singh’s saved drag-flick in the sixth minute, and Abhishek doubled the lead in the 12th after Indonesia goalkeeper Alam Fajar parried an initial effort. Fajar produced several early stops, including denying attempts from Mandeep Singh, but India still led 2-0 at the end of the first quarter. The result served as the start of India’s defence of their continental crown and set the tone for the rest of the game.

The second quarter saw India extend the margin rapidly: Dilpreet struck twice in successive minutes (18th and 19th), Rajinder Singh scored in the 19th, and Mandeep Singh added a goal in the 21st minute. Harmanpreet Singh converted a penalty corner in the 28th minute after an earlier penalty stroke was saved by Fajar, and India took a 7-0 lead into half-time through a mix of open-play goals and set-piece finishes.

Indonesia opened their account in the third quarter when captain Aulia Al Ardh converted a penalty corner in the 33rd minute following a successful video referral. India replied immediately, with Shilanand Lakra scoring his second in the 35th, Dilpreet completing a hat-trick in the 37th, and Sukhjeet Singh adding a goal in the 38th to make the score 10-1 by the end of the period.

In the final quarter Jugraj Singh converted from India’s second penalty corner attempt in the 47th minute after the first was blocked by the first rusher, and Sukhjeet Singh scored his second in the 48th following a move that finished with a driving run down the right flank. Dilpreet sealed his personal tally with a fourth goal in the 49th, deflecting home after an initial touch from Abhishek, and India maintained control as the remaining minutes saw Indonesia retain possession in the circle.

India will face Sri Lanka in their second Pool A fixture on September 22, with the match scheduled to start at 3:30 PM IST. The team will look to carry forward the attacking rhythm and defensive discipline on display against Indonesia as they build towards the knockout stages of the tournament.