Asian games 2023 - Watch: Fan Celebrating India's Goal vs Hosts China At Asian Games Told To Sit Down. Then This Happens

The men's Indian football team began their Asian Games campaign on a forgettable note on Tuesday as they lost to hosts China 1-5. Giao Tianyi (17th min), Dai Weijun (51st min), Tao Qianglong (72nd and 75th minute) and Hao Fang (90+2) scored for China. Rahul KP (45+1 minute) scored the only goal for India in the first half from an acute angle. It was a great strike that ensured that India go into the half-time ties 1-1 with China. However, the second-half was completely owned by China.

That one goal by Rahul was enough to put the Indian fans present at Huanglong Sports Centre Stadium in Hangzhou on their feet. One such Indian fan got excited after the strike and started celebrating. One of the stadium attendants told him to sit down but he continues celebrating.

| WHAT A GOALLLLL RAHUL KP! @rahulkp_r7_pic.twitter.com/tZLFnGNADW

It was heartening to see a third-string team holding the title contenders on an even keel during the first 45 minutes, which saw Indian custodian Gurmeet Singh Chahal valiantly save a spot-kick taken by rival captain Zhu Chenjie.

India now need to beat Bangladesh and Myanmar in their remaining two games to qualify for the second round. Myanmar beat Bangladesh 4-2 in another game in this group.

Having reached the Games Village late on Monday evening, the third-string Indian team, with not even four specialist defenders in their ranks, didn't have enough co-ordination amongst themselves. They looked jet-lagged, not rested enough and there was no way that there could have been a miracle.

The gulf in class and quality was evident and most of the Chinese attacks happened from India's wide left (China's right flank) side, which was being manned by Sumit Rathi. It became a free-ride for the Chinese