Tokyo Olympics 2020: India ends the group stage with a good win

 The Indian men’s hockey team ended the Group stage with a convincing win over Japan played at Oi Hockey Stadium, North Pitch on Thursday.

It was an aggressive start by both teams made good moves but the defense was up to the mark. Despite the circle penetrations by the Indian team, they were not able to convert goals. Harmanpreet Singh converted the penalty corner into a goal in the 13^th minute to give India a 1-0 lead. The Indian team-maintained aggression and ended the first quarter at 1-0.

The second quarter saw the Indian team started off with a goal at a superb pace by Simrjanjeet Singh and deflection by Gurjant Singh gave in the 17^th minute to give India 2-0 lead. Indian defender made a mistake as Kenta Tanaka converted a powerful shot in the 19^th minute helped Japan reduce 1 goal. Yamada Shota suffered a shoulder injury and had to be carried on a stretcher. Japan made an attacking move, but P Sreejesh made a superb save. At the end of the first half, India still led 2-1.

Japan started off the third quarter on an aggressive with circle penetration. The umpire called a penalty stroke, but Watanabe's shot went inside the goal in the 32^nd minute helping Japan to level the scores at 2-2. In the very next minute, a brilliant deflection shot by Shamsher kept India ahead by 3-2. After the two goals, both teams were not able to do circle penetrations. Both teams tried to make aggressive moves but did not yield anything. India was awarded a penalty corner but on review, the decision was overturned to free hit. At the end of the third quarter, India took a 3-2 lead.

The fourth quarter saw both teams made aggressive moves. Japan caught India’s defense off guard as P Sreejesh made a superb save. India scored their fourth goal in the 51^st minute via a combination pass by Surinder and deflection by Nilkanata. The Indian team made continued aggressive moves and earned a penalty corner, but Japanese rushers made a brave move denying Harmanpreet Singh a goal. Japan earned their first penalty corner as P Sreejesh made a superb save. A superb deflection by Gurjant Singh from a penalty corner in the 56^th minute made it 5-2 in favor of India.  

Sreejesh made another piece of superb save from a forceful shot by Tanaka. Kazuma Murata scored Japan’s third goal in the 59^th minute with a superb assist by Tanaka. India was without its star players including Rupinder Pal Singh, Mandeep Singh, and others.

India ended the Group Stage with 12 points with 4 wins and 1 loss. They finished second on the points table and will face the 3^rd ranked team of Pool B in the quarterfinals on 31^st July. 

 

 

 

India ends the Group stage defeating Japan by 5-3