Lacklustre India beat gritty Japan
Ipoh (Malaysia), Apr 6, 2016, PTI:
Harmanpreet, Sardar score in hard-fought win
Asian Games champions India came from a goal down to clinch an unimpressive 2-1 victory over hard-working Japan on the opening day of the 25th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament, here on Wednesday.
Squandering a series of scoring chances created by defence-splitting crosses that sailed across the goalmouth, India managed to earn full points against the lowly-ranked rivals through goals from young drag-flicker Harmanpreet Singh (24th minute) and captain Sardar Singh (32nd) after Kenji Kitazato (17th) gave Japan the lead.
Earlier, Pakistan banked on two goals from Muhammad Arslan Qadir to open their campaign with a 3-1 victory over Canada in extremely humid conditions at the Sultan Azlan Shah Stadium here.
In their opening match later in the day, India struggled to find a leeway through the hard-working Japanese outfit. SV Sunil’s deflection on a diagonal cross from Ramandeep Singh went over the cross-bar before Japan stunned the Indian defence in the 17th minute.
Kitazato converted Japan’s first penalty corner by placing a fine flick to the left of Indian goalkeeper Harjot Singh. Taken aback by the reversal, the Indians began exerting some pressure and were rewarded with their first penalty corner that Harmanpreet converted through a drag-flick into the right corner in the 24th minute.
Skipper Sardar then capitalised on a short diagonal pass from Jasjit Singh Kular on the right wing to beat Japanese goalkeeper Takashi Yoshikawa with a reverse shot that went into the far corner of the goal two minute into the second half.
Just after the match India’s chief coach Roelant Oltmans said he was always confident of winning the encounter against Japan even after a rusty start. “We did not have a good start today, but it is the just the beginning of a tournament,” said Oltmans.
Results: India: 2 (Harmanpreet Singh 24th, Sardar Singh 32nd) bt Japan: 1 (Kenji Kitazato 17th); Pakistan: 3 (Mohd Qadir Arslan 27th, 28th, Mohd Tousiq 52nd) bt Canada: 1 (Richard Hildreth 48th); Malaysia: 3 (Firhan Ashaari 19th, Razie Rahim 44th, Shahril Saabah 48th) drew with New Zealand: 3 (Nick Wilson 22nd, 34th, Simon Child 55th)
Manpreet bereaved
Indian men’s hockey team suffered a big jolt on Wednesday after centre-half Manpreet Singh was ruled out of the tournament following the sudden death of his father.
Manpreet returned home on hearing the death of his father just before India’s opening fixture against Japan, which the Sardar Singh-led side won 2-1.
India’s squad was reduced to 17 for the opening match against Japan and to make matters worse they will not be able to get a replacement for Manpreet.
Squandering a series of scoring chances created by defence-splitting crosses that sailed across the goalmouth, India managed to earn full points against the lowly-ranked rivals through goals from young drag-flicker Harmanpreet Singh (24th minute) and captain Sardar Singh (32nd) after Kenji Kitazato (17th) gave Japan the lead.
Earlier, Pakistan banked on two goals from Muhammad Arslan Qadir to open their campaign with a 3-1 victory over Canada in extremely humid conditions at the Sultan Azlan Shah Stadium here.
In their opening match later in the day, India struggled to find a leeway through the hard-working Japanese outfit. SV Sunil’s deflection on a diagonal cross from Ramandeep Singh went over the cross-bar before Japan stunned the Indian defence in the 17th minute.
Kitazato converted Japan’s first penalty corner by placing a fine flick to the left of Indian goalkeeper Harjot Singh. Taken aback by the reversal, the Indians began exerting some pressure and were rewarded with their first penalty corner that Harmanpreet converted through a drag-flick into the right corner in the 24th minute.
Skipper Sardar then capitalised on a short diagonal pass from Jasjit Singh Kular on the right wing to beat Japanese goalkeeper Takashi Yoshikawa with a reverse shot that went into the far corner of the goal two minute into the second half.
Just after the match India’s chief coach Roelant Oltmans said he was always confident of winning the encounter against Japan even after a rusty start. “We did not have a good start today, but it is the just the beginning of a tournament,” said Oltmans.
Results: India: 2 (Harmanpreet Singh 24th, Sardar Singh 32nd) bt Japan: 1 (Kenji Kitazato 17th); Pakistan: 3 (Mohd Qadir Arslan 27th, 28th, Mohd Tousiq 52nd) bt Canada: 1 (Richard Hildreth 48th); Malaysia: 3 (Firhan Ashaari 19th, Razie Rahim 44th, Shahril Saabah 48th) drew with New Zealand: 3 (Nick Wilson 22nd, 34th, Simon Child 55th)
Manpreet bereaved
Indian men’s hockey team suffered a big jolt on Wednesday after centre-half Manpreet Singh was ruled out of the tournament following the sudden death of his father.
Manpreet returned home on hearing the death of his father just before India’s opening fixture against Japan, which the Sardar Singh-led side won 2-1.
India’s squad was reduced to 17 for the opening match against Japan and to make matters worse they will not be able to get a replacement for Manpreet.
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