India brace for China after 13-0 opening win at Men's Asian Champions Trophy 2026
India will face China in Jalandhar at the Men's Asian Champions Trophy 2026 after beginning the tournament with a 13-0 victory over Bangladesh in their opening match. The hosts arrive at the meeting buoyed by that result but intent on maintaining focus under captain Harmanpreet Singh and coach Craig Fulton.
India, five-time champions and the defending title-holders aiming for a third consecutive Asian Champions Trophy crown, are playing their matches in Punjab, where strong home support is expected. After the China game the Indian schedule includes league-stage fixtures against Japan, Malaysia and South Korea, and consistency across all five league matches will be crucial to securing a semi-final place.
The 13-0 win over Bangladesh showcased India’s attacking depth: Mandeep Singh scored a hat-trick, while Harmanpreet Singh, Dilpreet Singh and Hardik Singh each found the net twice, with several other players also contributing to the total. That result underlined the variety of goal sources available to the hosts as they begin title defence.
China represent a sterner test after meeting India in the previous edition’s final, where India prevailed 1-0. India cannot afford complacency after the big opening scoreline, and the Chinese side will be looking to present a more competitive challenge in Jalandhar.
Coach Craig Fulton will use the match as an opportunity to assess combinations while the Indian forwards will aim to create space, move the ball quickly and convert chances inside the circle. Harmanpreet Singh remains central to plans through his leadership and penalty-corner expertise, and the hosts will be expected to make the most of set-piece opportunities.
Live coverage will provide verified scores, goal updates and match highlights as the action unfolds in Jalandhar.
India’s immediate assignment is the league match against China in Jalandhar; with the top four teams advancing to the semi-finals, results across the five league-stage fixtures will determine progression in the tournament.
