TOKYO (SID) – German hockey men began their medal mission in Tokyo with a runaway victory. National coach Kais Al Saadi’s team had no problem in the opening game against the Canadian outsiders in a sovereign 7:1 (4:1). With this, the 2008 and 2012 Olympic champions gained a good deal of confidence on their way to becoming their fifth consecutive precious metal.

At the OE Hockey Stadium, Lucas Windfeder broke the spell for “Honomas” after eleven minutes at a temperature of about 30 °C. Keegan Pereira (16.) managed to equalize in the second quarter for the Canadians, who are being coached by German Andre Henning.

With double (22nd, 25th) goal scorers Christopher Ruhr quickly clear conditions were ensured for better selection by the German Hockey Association (DHB). The windfeder advanced to the sub-European champion with a second converted penalty corner shortly before the brake siren (28th).

Experienced Martin Hainer also succeeded with a penalty corner in his 263rd international match (44th), Niklas Böserhof (59th) and the recently injured Mats Grambusch (60th) scored a late goal for the final score. When the DHB team won the bronze medal in Rio de Janeiro almost exactly five years ago, there was also a win against Canada (6:2) at the beginning.

The next opponent on Monday (2.30 pm / CEST) awaits the German men to world champions Belgium, who previously celebrated an early 3-1 victory in the top match against European champions the Netherlands. In the third Group B duel, Great Britain fought for a 3–1 win against South Africa. The best four teams make it to the quarter finals.

German hockey women’s around captain Nike Lorenz will begin the Olympic tournament on Sunday (2.30pm/CEST). “Danas” also won bronze in Rio.