In a hard-fought encounter at the Asian Games, India displayed determination but ultimately succumbed to a 1-5 defeat against China in Group A action on Tuesday. The Indian squad put up a valiant fight but couldn’t withstand China’s relentless pressure.

China made their mark early in the game when Gao Tianyi broke the deadlock in the 16th minute with a stunning strike from outside the six-yard box. However, India managed to level the score just before halftime when Rahul KP delivered a sensational goal, leaving both teams tied at 1-1 heading into the break.

The second half saw China’s dominance. They quickly retook the lead in the 51st minute as Dai Weijun found the net from long range. India’s woes deepened when Tao Qianglong scored twice in a mere three minutes, extending China’s lead to 4-1 by the 75th minute. Fang Hao added one more goal just before the final whistle, sealing a disappointing result for India.

India faced several challenges during the match, including a shortage of players who were unavailable due to visa-related issues. Additionally, the team’s last-minute arrival in China left them with no time for practice, clearly impacting their performance in the second half. India had finalized their squad on Friday, with some Indian Super League (ISL) clubs refusing to release players as the new season was set to begin on September 21.

In Group A of the Asian Games, India is grouped alongside host nation China, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. In another match from the same group, Myanmar secured a 1-0 victory against Bangladesh, played earlier in the afternoon.