Asian Games 2023, Hockey: India's men retain first place in Pool A after a 4-2 victory against holders Japan.
Asian Games 2023: A brace from youthful striker Abhishek helped India overcome a difficult test against Japan to retain first place in Pool A of men's hockey in Hangzhou.
Ankush Pandey
Young striker Abhishek scored twice as India defeated reigning champions Japan 4-2 to record their third consecutive victory and advance to the men's hockey semi-finals at the Asian Games in Hangzhou on Thursday. Abhishek (13th, 48th minutes) scored two field goals for India, while Mandeep Singh (24th) and Amit Rohidas (34th) also scored.
Japan rallied in the final five minutes of the fourth and final quarter, scoring two fast goals by Genki Mitani (57th) and Ryosei Kato (60th) to narrow the losing deficit. On Saturday, India will face archrival Pakistan in their second Pool A encounter.
Asian Games Day 5 Highlights
No. 3 in the world For the most part, the Indian side dominated the proceedings and commanded ball possession, although Japan showed flashes in some areas. The optimistic Indians began quickly and collected their first penalty corner in the fifth minute, but skipper Harmanpreet Singh's flick flew wide. In the 12th minute, India gave their first penalty corner of the tournament, but the Japanese failed to capitalise as goalie Krishan Bahadur Pathak stopped Shota Yamada's attempt. India immediately got another penalty corner, but the outcome was the same.
However, a minute later, an opportunistic Abhishek gave India the lead, scoring with a reverse stick after getting an assist from Hardik Singh. India was awarded another penalty corner, but the Japanese stood firm.
Lalit Upadhyay's timely deflection from Jarmanpreet Singh's cross was saved by Japanese custodian Takshi Yoshikawa seconds into the first quarter. Mandeep dived full length to block Nilkanta's ball in the 24th minute, giving India a 2-0 lead. After the restart, India earned their fourth penalty corner, but Yoshikawa stopped Sanjay's flick. Soon after, India earned back-to-back penalty corners, the second of which Rohidas converted with a tremendous drag-flick to the top right corner of Japan's goal. As the third quarter came to a close, India looked dangerous and continued to press the Japanese defense hard in quest of additional goals.
Three minutes into the fourth quarter, Abhishek teamed nicely with Mandeep to score his second goal of the day, bringing India's tally to 4-0. The Japanese, however, would not give up without a fight and came back hard, scoring two fast goals in the final five minutes of the game.
The Japanese won three penalty corners in three minutes and found the target with the third one thanks to a fantastic variation goal from Mitani. Japan grabbed one back shortly before the final hooter with a counterattack through Kato.
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