Warnakula’s hat-trick set up Lanka’s 5-2 win over Singapore

Sri Lanka national men’s hockey team made a good start to the 9-nation Men’s Asian Games Qualifiers, beating Singapore 5-2 last evening in Bangkok. Sri Lanka placed in Pool ' B' with Bangladesh, Indonesia and Singapore, will face Bangladesh on Tuesday in their next group match.

Though Singapore took the early lead, scoring two goals in the 13th and 18th minutes through Yuhair M. Sabri and Yap Wee Lee, Sri Lanka fought back brilliantly scoring three quick goals. Chathuranga Chandrasena found the net in the 24th minute, followed by Buddika Dias in the 27th minute, and Vipul Warnakula who scored the third goal in the 28th minute of play. Warnakula then scored two more goals in the 50th and 59th minutes to record a hat-trick of goals and to lead Sri Lanka to a comfortable win.