Ipoh: India have started their Asia Cup campaign on a positive note as they defeated Oman 8-0 in their opening clash at Sultan Azlan Shah Stadium here on Saturday. A brilliant hat-trick by Mandeep Singh was the highlight of the day as India registered this comprehensive win in the match which saw four goals scored in each half.

The Indian team came out with the attacking mindset and it was Mandeep (4th) who drew the first blood for India. Ramandeep (17th) doubled the lead with his brilliant strike in the 17th minute of the game and with the successful strikes from Raghunath and Rupinderpal Singh in 28th and 34th minute respectively, India were 4-0 ahead after the first half of the match.
 

Indian team relied more on building the formations which came off from the right flank from Ramandeep Singh and Malak Singh who were complementing each other very well and as the match progressed it gave some very rich dividends in the second half too.
 

India kept their ascendancy as in the second half of the match, Mandeep struck twice in the 40th and 44th minute to give India an unsurpassable lead of 6-0. To make the matters worse for the Oman was the goal from Malak Singh (47th) and S K Uthappa (69th) which gave India to ideal start in the Asia Cup campaign.
 

If India manages to pull off a title then it can get them a place in the 2014 World Cup which will be played at The Hague, Netherlands.