Indian hockey

The Asian Champions Trophy will also serve as a preparation event for the Hangzhou Asian Games 2023. The team will continue to be led by ace drag-flicker and defender Harmanpreet Singh while prolific midfielder Hardik Singh will be his deputy.

Youngster Vaishnavi Vittal Phalke (29') was the lone goal-scorer for India while Nike Lorenz (6', 59') and Jette Fleschütz (14', 43') scored a brace in Germany's win. The hosts began the match on an attacking note, putting India on the backfoot at the very beginning. They scored back-to-back goals in the first quarter mounting pressure on India's defence. 

However, the women's team, which is also gearing up for the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, has no plans to seek the services of a similar expert nor are they thinking of using Upton's services for their players. Coach Janneke Schopkan and skipper Savita said at this moment they don't have any plans to use Upton's services for the women's team.

Captain Savita Punia is confident in her team's preparation and ability to finish on top of the podium at the upcoming Hangzhou Asian Games, which will take place in September and October of this year. the Hangzhou Asian Games will also be a chance for the Indian team to improve upon the silver medal it won in Jakarta four years back.

In the first match of the day, Hockey Madhya Pradesh beat Kerala Hockey 14-0 in Pool A. Mohammad Zaid Khan (3', 39', 56'), Ali Ahmad (6', 24'), Mohd Konain Dad (8', 18', 43',60'), Captain Ankit Pal (15'), Md Kareem Mansuri (29'), Shreyas Dupe (30', 41'), and Kashif Khan (57') featured on the scoresheet for Hockey Madhya Pradesh.

India who had defeated Argentina, the Rio Olympics gold medallists, by a similar margin a few days back and Sunday's victory took their tally to 30 points from 16 matches in the nine-team double round-robin tournament. Akashdeep Singh put India ahead in the first minute while Sukhjeet Singh scored another field goal in the 13th minute for India. Lucas Toscani scored off a penalty corner for Argentina in the 57th minute.

Goals for The Netherlands came from Duco Telgenkamp (7'), Boris Burkhardt (41') and Tjep Hoedemakers (43'), while Sanjay (18') and Gurjant Singh (46') scored for the Indians. The Indian men's hockey team started off the contest with more the possession, looking to attack the Dutch in the early stages.

Sunelita Toppo (47') scored the only goal of the game. The victory means that the Indian team will compete in the prestigious tournament's Final for the second time, having previously reached the summit clash in 2012. India qualified for the FIH Junior Hockey Women's World Cup 2023 by reaching the tournament's Final.

During the week-long tour, the Indian women's team will first train in Russelsheim, Frankfurt followed by a series of test matches against the German and Chinese national teams. Post this exposure tour in Germany, the team will head to Terassa, Spain to play the four Nations tournament againt South Africa, England and Spain before heading back to India. The German tour is set to help the Indian team prepare for the upcoming Asian Games .

India confirmed their place in the last four with a resounding 11-0 victory over Chinese Taipei on Thursday. The impressive victory also meant that India finished the tournament's group stage unbeaten and atop the Pool A table. Now, India prepare to face Japan in the semifinals on Saturday, with the winner advancing to the tournament's final and also confirming their berth in the upcoming FIH Junior Women's World Cup 2023.