ഏഷ്യൻ ചാമ്പ്യൻസ് ട്രോഫി ഹോക്കിയിൽ ഇന്ന് ഇന്ത്യ ചൈനയെ നേരിടുന്നു. ബംഗ്ലാദേശിനെതിരെ വമ്പൻ ജയം നേടിയ ഇന്ത്യ ആത്മവിശ്വാസത്തിലാണ്. ഇതിനിടെ, ഇന്ത്യൻ താരം നീലകണ്ഠ ശർമ്മ ടൂർണമെന്റിന് ശേഷം വിരമിക്കുമെന്ന് പ്രഖ്യാപിച്ചു. ഒളിമ്പിക്സ് മെഡൽ ജേതാവായ താരം തന്റെ കരിയറിലെ അവസാന മത്സരങ്ങൾക്കായി തയ്യാറെടുക്കുകയാണ്. ചൈന തങ്ങളുടെ ആദ്യ മത്സരത്തിൽ മലേഷ്യയോട് പരാജയപ്പെട്ടിരുന്നു.
The Indian men's hockey team will look to make it two wins out of two as they take on China in their Asian Champions Trophy league stage match at Jalandhar's Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium on Thursday.
India, the defending champions, started the tournament with a big win 13-0 over Bangladesh. Mandeep Singh scored a hat trick, while captain Harmanpreet Singh, Dilpreet Singh and Hardik Singh scored twice each. Shilanand Lakra, Abhishek, Nilakanta Sharma and Jugraj Singh were the other goalscorers for India.
Meanwhile, post the win against Bangladesh, Nilakanta Sharma has announced his retirement. The Asian Champions Trophy will be his last tournament in the India jersey.
The 31-year-old Manipuri midfielder will retire after a successful career, having been part of India's historic bronze-medal-winning campaign at the Tokyo Olympics and gold-medal triumphs at two consecutive Asian Games.
Reflecting on his decision to retire, Nilakanta said, "I discussed that with our coach during the Asian Games. I told him that I want to bid adieu in the next tournament because I feel it's the right time for me."
He added: "Of course, the Olympic bronze medal was one of the biggest moments of my career, but I feel extremely fortunate to play the last two matches at the Asian Games 2026 in Japan and win another Asian Games gold medal, when Raj Kumar Pal suffered a hand injury and I was included in the squad."
Nilakanta said he hopes to remain connected with hockey and contribute to its development in his home state.
Meanwhile, China played Malaysia in their opening match and it was a high scoring thriller which they lost 4-5.