DOHA, Dec 2: Defending champions China, strong contenders South Korea and fast-improving Japan opened their Asian Games women's field hockey campaign with big wins here on Saturday.

China, who snatched the title from South Korea in Busan four years ago, blanked an amateur side from Hong Kong 9-0 at the Al-Rayyan stadium on the outskirts of the Qatari capital.

The Korean girls brushed aside Chinese Taipei 8-0 while Japan outclassed Malaysia 7-0 in other one-sided matches on the opening day of the seven-nation event.

China outplayed Hong Kong despite converting only five of their 16 penalty corners following a fighting display by Hong Kong goal-keeper Queenie Ho.

Hong Kong coach Adrienne Glancy said she was satisfied by her team's performance despite the heavy defeat.

“We are a purely amateur team so I think this result was outstanding for us,” Glancy said. “We have gained a lot of confidence with this match.”China's South Korean coach Kum Chang-back said the big win would not guarantee his team the gold medal.

“South Korea, Japan and India are all on the same level so it is not going to be easy to retain the title,” he said. “We have to improve with every match.”

Japan, who finished a creditable fifth at the World Cup in Madrid in September ahead of China (ninth) and South Korea (10th), proved they will be tough rivals here.

The Japanese girls struck four goals in the first half and banged in three more in the second to impress their Korean coach Yoo Seung-Jin.

“We were very positive and went for goals from the start which made me very happy,” said Yoo, whose team faces his native South Korea on Sunday.

“I think we will go in with a lot of confidence in that game. It will be an equal battle.”The Koreans hit in six first-half goals against Taiwan and added two more in the second half to also make a fluent start.

Each team plays the other once in the round-robin league with the top four advancing to the semi-finals.—AFP