Image credit: Hockey India
India continued their winning run in the men’s Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament with a convincing 4-1 victory over Japan on Friday. India had defeated Malaysia 5-1 at the recent Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. Striker Abhishek Nain scored twice as the five-time champions registered their third consecutive win in the tournament. Japan will face China in their next match. India took some time to settle into the match. There was a lack of coordination between the midfield and forward line, with vice-captain Hardik Singh doing most of the work without much support.
Asian Games champions India will next take on Malaysia on Sunday.
Abhishek made no mistake and guided the ball into the goal to give India a 1-0 lead. Captain Harmanpreet Singh made the opportunity count with a powerful low flick to put India ahead 2-1. Abhishek scored his second goal of the match in the 51st minute after another good attacking move, extending India’s lead to 3-1.
Abhishek (11th, 51st minutes) scored two field goals, while captain Harmanpreet Singh (47th) converted India’s only penalty corner of the match. Vishnukant Singh (56th) also scored a field goal. Hardik started the move and found Sukhjeet Singh inside the circle near the left corner. Sukhjeet then passed the ball to Abhishek, who was playing his 150th international match. Three minutes into the third quarter, Hardik created a good chance for Sukhjeet, but the forward’s shot from inside the circle went over the goal. The hosts earned their first penalty corner of the match in the 46th minute.