Coach Craig Fulton had admitted that the Chinese team at the Asian Champions Trophy was unknown and it was difficult to plan against. India was clearly the better side but struggled to find the gaps before prevailing 5-2 on Thursday.

After the goal-fest against Bangladesh, India was up against a Chinese side with a very clear plan — pack the midfield, deny the home team space on the ground and force it to go in the air, then defend with everything they have. It almost worked, the Indians having to adapt, relying on their experience to enter not only the Chinese circle but also to keep them at bay.

A long aerial pass from India’s 25-yard line by Jugraj Singh was controlled just inside the circle by Sukhjeet Singh. He carried it a couple of steps ahead on the stick before unleashing a rasping hit over the head of the advancing goalkeeper Huanyu Wu in the 12th minute.

To China’s credit, its structure held firm with a counterattack and a couple of shots on goal. It finally levelled through Yang Peng’s penalty corner conversion in the 26th minute, only for Mandeep Singh to be checked on a counter and hand India a PC of its own. Harmanpreet Singh made no mistake to restore the lead.

The big positive was India’s sustained momentum either side of the break, something Fulton has admitted as frustratingly lacking. Two goals ins the first four minutes on resumption of action made it 4-1, Harmanpreet and Sukhjeet adding one each.

Another PC in the 36th minute for China and another goal made it 4-2 before Jugraj Singh got on the scoresheet with a PC.

Fulton would also be happy with India’s pace and the fact that not only the aerials were used to good effect but also the midfield’s ability to constantly rotate and stretch the opposition thin to move ahead.

The results: India 5 (Sukhjeet Singh 12, 34, Harmanpreet Singh 27-pc, 31-pc, Jugraj Singh 47-pc) bt China 2 (Yang Peng 26-pc, Chen Chongcong 36-pc); Malaysia 3 (Azimuddin Kamaruddin 10, Akhimullah Anuar 36-pc, Faizal Saari 50) bt Korea 1 (Song Haeseong 31); Japan 1 (Raiki Fujishima 40-pc) bt Bangladesh 0.