The Indian men's hockey team delivered a stunning performance in their opening match of the Asian Games 2023, overwhelming Uzbekistan with a remarkable 16-0 victory at the Gongshu Canal Sports Park Stadium in Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China, on Sunday.

The Indian squad showcased their prowess on the field, with an impressive array of goal scorers. Lalit Upadhyay proved to be the standout player, netting four goals at the 7th, 24th, 37th, and 53rd minutes. Meanwhile, Varun Kumar contributed significantly to the scoreline, securing four goals at the 12th, 36th, 50th, and 52nd minutes. Additional goals came from Abhishek (17’), Mandeep Singh (18’, 27’, 28’), Amit Rohidas (38’), Sukhjeet (42’), Shamsher Singh (43’), and Sanjay (57’).

This commanding victory propels three-time Asian Games champions India to the summit of the Asian Games 2023 men's hockey Pool A standings. The top two teams from each pool will advance to the semi-finals, and India's dominant performance puts them in an excellent position to contend for the gold medal in this year's tournament.

The Indian men's hockey team's emphatic triumph marks a promising start to their Asian Games 2023 campaign, with fans and pundits eagerly anticipating their upcoming matches in the competition.