Hockey: Asian Champions Trophy India strong favourites against China

Starting as overwhelming favourites, confident India would look to open their title defence on a positive note against an unpredictable China in the second edition of the Asian Champions Trophy here on Thursday. The Sardar Singh-led India will approach the tournament with a new-found confidence and zeal having finished a creditable fourth in the prestigious FIH Champions Trophy in Melbourne earlier this month after competing as a wild card entry.

India lost to arch-rivals Pakistan, whom they defeated en route to the title here last year, to miss out on a bronze medal at the just-concluded FIH Champions Trophy in Melbourne. And this tournament would not only provide Sardar and his boys the opportunity to avenge their defeat at the hands of Pakistan but also make up for their disappointment in Melbourne, where they missed the podium by a whisker.