The ninth Men's Asia Cup hockey tournament kicked off at Ipoh in Malaysia today. Young striker Mandeep Singh netted a hat-trick as India hammered Oman 8-NIL to start their 9th Asia Cup Hockey Championship campaign on a perfect note at the Sultan Azlan Shah Stadium. Besides Mandeep's hat trick Ramandeep, V R Raghunath, Rupinderpal Singh, Malak Singh and S K Uthappa scored once for India. India's World Cup hopes hinge on this tournament's triumph, as the event offers its winners an automatic entry into next year's Hockey World Cup, as continental champions. India had lifted the Asia Cup in 2003 and 2007, while they have finished runners up four times. After a rest day tomorrow, India will play title holders Korea in the second Pool B match on August 26. The semi-finals of the competition will be played on August 30, with the title clash slated for September 1. India is placed in Pool-B, alongside Korea, Bangladesh and Oman.