The Indian men’s hockey team secured a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Japan on Sunday to book a place in the Super 4s of the ongoing Asia Cup. However, the narrow win did little to allay growing concerns around India’s defensive frailties and missed opportunities in attack, issues that once again surfaced despite the favourable result.
In a match that showcased two contrasting halves, India dominated early proceedings but found itself hanging on by the end. The home side started aggressively, with the strikers coming close twice in the opening minutes. Their efforts bore fruit quickly when Mandeep Singh turned and shot past the Japanese defence to open the scoring in the fourth minute.
Just a minute later, India earned four consecutive penalty corners. Captain Harmanpreet Singh made the fourth count with a low, powerful strike to give India a 2-0 lead. The opening quarter saw India press high, with defenders holding a position near the halfway line while the rest of the team relentlessly pursued a third goal.
The pressure continued in the second quarter, though India couldn’t capitalise on its attacking momentum. Missed chances from Dilpreet and Abhishek kept Japan in the contest, and despite earning four consecutive penalty corners, the Japanese were denied by goalkeeper Suraj Karkera and a crucial diving clearance by Vivek Sagar Prasad.
Japan returned from the halftime break with renewed intent. Their persistence was rewarded in the 37th minute when Kosei Kawabe rifled a shot from the top of the circle, beating both Krishan Pathak and Jugraj Singh to halve the deficit. India struggled to match the tempo, with missed chances continuing to pile up.
In the dying moments of the third quarter, India won its sixth penalty corner, and Harmanpreet once again stepped up, restoring the two-goal cushion. Still, the lack of finishing touch from forwards Abhishek and Sukhjeet Singh allowed Japan to stay within reach.
The final minute saw Kawabe strike again to bring Japan within one, but it proved too late as the clock ran out.
While India earned the three points and a place in the next round, head coach Craig Fulton will have plenty to ponder. Conceding nine penalty corners and failing to convert attacking dominance into a comfortable win may not be sustainable against tougher opposition in the Super 4s.
Still, a win is a win. India will now look to regroup, correct its course, and find sharper form as the Asia Cup intensifies.
