Playing in front of the home crowd at the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium, Sukhjeet scored two field goals in the 12th and 34th minutes. Harmanpreet converted two penalty corners in the 27th and 31st minutes, while Jugraj Singh added another goal in the 47th minute.
China scored both their goals through penalty corners. Peng Yang converted in the 26th minute, while Chongcong Chen found the net in the 36th minute.
India had started their campaign with a 13-0 win over Bangladesh. China, meanwhile, had lost 4-5 to Asian Games silver medallists Malaysia in their opening match.
India will next face Japan on Friday, while China will take on South Korea.
Sukhjeet gives India the lead
India dominated the early exchanges and made several circle entries but struggled to create clear scoring chances in the opening 12 minutes.
The breakthrough came in the 13th minute. Jugraj Singh played a perfect scoop from deep inside India’s half, finding Sukhjeet inside the Chinese circle. The forward controlled the ball brilliantly before lifting it over goalkeeper Huanyu Wu to put India ahead.
China earned their first penalty corner in the 18th minute, but the Indian defence dealt with the threat. India then won two consecutive penalty corners in the 20th minute. However, Harmanpreet failed to convert the second opportunity, sending his flick wide.
The young Chinese side defended well against India’s attacks and managed to draw level in the 26th minute. Peng Yang made no mistake with a drag-flick from their second penalty corner, sending the ball to the right of Indian goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak.
India’s response was immediate. A minute later, Harmanpreet scored with a powerful low flick from India’s third penalty corner to restore the hosts’ lead.
China earned two penalty corners just 30 seconds before half-time but failed to convert either, allowing India to go into the break with a 2-1 advantage.
Harmanpreet and Sukhjeet extend India’s lead
India began the second half on the front foot. Harmanpreet scored his second goal of the match with another grounded flick from the team’s fourth penalty corner, making it 3-1.
Sukhjeet then extended India’s lead in the 34th minute. He controlled an aerial pass from Harmanpreet, played from the halfway line, before slotting home a pass from Aditya Arjun Lalage.
China refused to give up and reduced the deficit two minutes later. Chongcong Chen scored with a well-executed variation from their fourth penalty corner to make it 4-2.
India soon earned their fifth penalty corner, but Jugraj’s flick was comfortably saved by goalkeeper Wu.
Jugraj seals India’s win
India continued to put pressure on the Chinese defence and earned two consecutive penalty corners early in the fourth quarter.
This time, Jugraj made no mistake. He fired a powerful grounded flick into the net in the 47th minute to give India a three-goal cushion.
India earned another penalty corner two minutes before the final hooter, but Harmanpreet’s effort was kept out by the Chinese goalkeeper.
The hosts eventually secured a comfortable 5-2 victory to make it two wins in a row in the tournament.
