The Indian hockey team have been dominant on the Asian circuit in the recent past. At last year’s Asian Champions Trophy (ACT) in Chennai (August 3-12) they scored 29 goals in seven matches en route to a gold medal performance. Around a month later, at the Asian Games in Hangzhou (September 24 to October 6), they were even more dominant, scoring 68 goals in seven matches during another virtually unchallenged gold medal show.

The fact that there is no other Asian team besides India (No. 5) in the top 10 FIH world rankings shows the decline in the quality of play in this continent. In this scenario, it should be a cakewalk for Harmanpreet Singh & Co as they head to Hulunbuir, China, to defend their ACT title (September 8-17).