Asia Cup Hockey Ind vs JPN: India will miss the second consecutive win, Japan may miss heavily, defense will have to remain vigilant

New Delhi. India will clash with Japan on Sunday in its second match of Asia Cup hockey. After winning the first match against China, the Indian team is freshly elevated. India’s protest against China was poor but Team was successful in winning India. Team India will land with the intention of second consecutive win at Rajgir Hockey Stadium in Bihar. The Indian team, ranked seventh in the world on Friday, won a 4-3 win over the world number 23 in the world in their first match in Pool A, but their performance was not impressive.

India is the highest ranked team in this tournament. And is a strong contender to win the Asia Cup. The winning team of this tournament will directly qualify between the World Cup to be held in Belgium and Netherlands next year. India made a great start against China, but its rhythm was disturbed as the game moved forward. The Indian defense line will have to be cautious against the fast -paced Japanese team, who scored seven goals against Kazakhstan in their first match.

‘All 4 goals of India come from penalty corner’

All four goals of India came from the penalty corner against China. In which captain Harmanpreet Singh made a hat -trick, but he missed out on converting a penalty stroke into a goal. Along with four dragflikar like Jugraj Singh, Harmanpreet, Sanjay and Amit Rohidas, India will also have to improve the rate of converting a penalty corner into goals. Although the Indian middle line performed well and made many opportunities, it would have to convert these opportunities into goals.

‘We are the highest ranked team and here is a strong contender’
India’s head coach Craig Fulton will also be worried about the inability of its forward players to score goals. Although players like Mandeep Singh, Sanjay, Dilpreet Singh and Sukhjit Singh looked agile inside the opposition circle, but they failed to register their names in the scorchheet. Fulton said, ‘We (against China) won the match but we did not live up to our expectations. We lost some opportunities and also ate some easy goals. We are the highest ranked team and here is a strong contender, so every team will prepare themselves well to play with us and we have to face that challenge.

‘Match against China is a good lesson for us’

Indian captain Harmanpreet said, ‘Most of the teams participating in this tournament wait for a counter -attack. The match against China is a good lesson for us. Our defense line will have to perform strongly. In the second match of the day, China will face Kazakhstan.

The teams are as follows:
India: Krishna B. Pathak (goalkeeper), Suraj Karra (goalkeeper), Sumit, Jarmanpreet Singh, Sanjay, Harmanpreet Singh (captain), Amit Rohidas, Jugraj Singh, Rajinder Singh, Raj Kumar Pal, Hardik Singh, Manpreet Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Mandeep Singh, Shilanand Lakra, Abhishek, Sukhjit Singh, Dilpreet Singh.