Mandeep hat-trick helps India beat Japan 6-3
TOKYO: Striker Mandeep Singh struck a fine hat-trick to help the Indian men’s hockey team beat Japan 6-3 and book a final berth in the Olympic Test Event here on Tuesday. The Indians bounced back from their 1-2 loss against New Zealand with an impressive display in their third match at the Oi Stadium. India again face New Zealand in the summit clash on Wednesday.
Mandeep found the target in the 9th, 29th and 30th minutes while Nilakanta Sharma (3rd), Nilam Sanjeep Xess (7th) and Gurjant Singh (41st) were the other scorers for India.
Kentaro Fukuda (25th), Kenta Tanaka (36th) and Kazuma Murata (52nd) scored for Japan.
Nilakanta gave India an excellent start through a field goal in the third minute. Buoyed by the early lead, the Indians put tremendous pressure on the Japan defence as Gurjant Singh took a shot at the goal, but saw his effort going wide of the post.
However, a penalty corner was awarded to India in the seventh minute which was converted brilliantly by Nilam Sanjeep to help the team take a 2-0 lead. India continued to take the aggressive approach and Mandeep found the back of the net with an excellent field goal in the ninth minute.
Japan tried to make inroads in the last few minutes of the first quarter as they won a penalty corner. Gurinder Singh positioned himself brilliantly and defended the shot on the goal line. India led 3-0 at the end of the first quarter.
India continued their attacking game in the second quarter with Jarmanpreet Singh taking a shot on goal, but put it wide of the post. Japan managed to open their account through a field goal from Kentaro Fukuda in the 25th minute, but Mandeep scored two field goals in quick succession to help India take a big 5-1 lead. The Indian vice-captain scored just before the half-time whistle in the 29th and 30th minutes.
However, the Japanese kept exerting pressure on the Indian defence and found a field goal through Kenta Tanaka in the 36th minute. India did not let the momentum shift as forward Gurjant found the back of the net in the 41st minute to make it 6-2 which put the world No 5 side in a dominant position at the end of the third quarter.
Japan attacked the Indian defence in the the fourth quarter and scored their third goal through Kazuma Murata in the 52nd minute.
WOMEN ENTER FINAL
Following an impressive performance against Australia, the Indian women’s hockey team on Tuesday secured a place in the final of the Olympic test event by playing out a 0-0 draw against China. The Indians looked in good rhythm during the initial stages of the first quarter, and constantly built pressure on the Chinese defence.
The World No 10 side looked comfortable in possession, and rotated the ball well to threaten the opponents in the opening 10 minutes, which also reflected when it won its first penalty corner in the 8th minute. India’s penalty corner expert Gurjit Kaur stepped up to take the setpiece, but could not find the back of the net as the goalkeeper Dongxiao Li deflected the ball away from danger.