Follow live updates of the Asia Cup match — India vs Japan — underway in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Harmanpreet Singh (Photo: Twitter)
Harmanpreet Singh scored a double and Ramandeep Singh, Lalit Upadhyay and SV Sunil chipped in with scoring one goal each as India thrashed Japan 5-1 to start their campaign at the Asia Cup in Dhaka on Wednesday.
FT! A sensational start to India’s Hero #AsiaCup2017 campaign with a commanding win over Japan on 11th Oct.#INDvJPN #IndiaKaGame🏑 pic.twitter.com/6bTVPpkkYM
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— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) October 11, 2017
Harmanpreet was bestowed with the Man of The Match award in the end.
Japan earned their second penalty corner in the 59th minute but failed to score.
With eight minutes remaining in the match, Ramandeep suffered injury after getting into a tangle with Japan’s Shota Yamada.
GOAL! With an assist by Varun Kumar, Harmanpreet Singh struck his second goal via PC in the 48th minute and India claimed a 5-1 lead.
48′ @varunhockey to @13harmanpreet and it’s a GOOOOALLLL! Brilliant variation off the PC by India.
🇮🇳5⃣-1⃣🇯🇵#AsiaCup2017 #IndiaKaGame🏑 pic.twitter.com/hK2BJZlEGs
— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) October 11, 2017
At the end of third quarter, India took control of the game completely and took an inaccessible 4-1 lead against the struggling Japanese hockey team.
End of Q3: 🇮🇳4⃣-1⃣🇯🇵.
India in the ascendancy with a three-goal advantage over Japan. #AsiaCup2017 #IndiaKaGame🏑 pic.twitter.com/DNV3dE6Dk9— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) October 11, 2017
GOAL! Drag-flicker Harmanpreet Singh scored for India in the 35th minute, via a penalty corner.
35′ GOOAALL!!! PC for India & @13harmanpreet makes no mistake in slotting it home.
🇮🇳4⃣-1⃣🇯🇵#AsiaCup2017 #IndiaKaGame🏑 pic.twitter.com/MbCTR6FZRe— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) October 11, 2017
GOAL! India extended their lead to 3-1 as Ramandeep Singh scored in the 32nd minute. The video empire confirmed the goal the Japanese probably thought the ball tore through the side net.
32′ GOALLLL! An absolute screamer from a tight angle by @ramandeep_31 to give India a two-goal lead.
🇮🇳3⃣-1⃣🇯🇵#AsiaCup2017 #IndiaKaGame🏑— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) October 11, 2017
At half-time, India were on top as they rode on field goals by Lalit Upadhyay and SV Sunil to take a 2-1 lead against Japan.
HT! Goals from @SVSunil24 and @lalithockey give India the advantage heading into the break.#AsiaCup2017 #IndiaKaGame🏑 pic.twitter.com/KDJCEgPS4Z
— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) October 11, 2017
GOAL! Lalit Upadhyay scored a remarkable field goal via reverse-flick and helped India take a 2-1 lead against Japan.
22′ GOALLLLL! A brilliant reverse flick by @lalithockey to win back the lead for India.
🇮🇳2⃣-1⃣🇯🇵#AsiaCup2017 #IndiaKaGame🏑
— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) October 11, 2017
India earned their first penalty corner in the 21st minute but failed to convert it into a goal.
India started their Asia Cup campaign briskly as their forward SV Sunil struck in the third minute though they conceived an equaliser in the next minute. India and Japan were level 1-1 after the end of first quarter.
End of Q1: 🇮🇳1⃣-1⃣🇯🇵
What an exhilarating quarter that was! What do you think of @SVSunil24‘s stunning finish?#AsiaCup2017 #IndiaKaGame🏑 pic.twitter.com/51flcVjdDE— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) October 11, 2017
GOAL! India’s celebration was halted soon after they scored their first goal. Kenji Kitazato scored an equaliser in the very next minute for Japan.
4′ Equaliser! Japan draw level through Kenji Kitazato’s Field Goal in the very next minute.
🇮🇳1⃣-1⃣🇯🇵#AsiaCup2017 #IndiaKaGame🏑— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) October 11, 2017
GOAL! India started their game aggressively and scored their first goal through SV Sunil, who found the back of the net in the third minute.
3′ A good run by @akashdeeps985 on the counter attack and @SVSunil24 finishes it off in style.
🇮🇳1⃣-0⃣🇯🇵#AsiaCup2017 #IndiaKaGame🏑— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) October 11, 2017
ICYMI! Here’s @SVSunil24‘s brilliant finish to open the scoring for India.
22′ IND1⃣-1⃣JPN#INDvJPN #AsiaCup2017 pic.twitter.com/LvOUeoYHAv
— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) October 11, 2017
Looking to retain the No.1 rank in the Asian hockey, Manpreet Singh-led Indian men’s hockey team has begin its Asia Cup campaign, facing Japan in the tournament opener in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Take a look at Team India’s Starting XI against Japan in the Hero #AsiaCup2017 on 11th Oct.
📺: Star Sports First/2/HD2 & Hotstar pic.twitter.com/dK8YqDtxBf— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) October 11, 2017
The tournament features Asia’s eight hockey powerhouses. India are grouped alongside Pakistan, Japan and Bangladesh in the mega event.
Skipper Manpreet didn’t shy to call Japan a tough rival, though he assured his boys are ‘upbeat for the first challenge’.
“The opening match is always challenging because we need to get over early nervousness and find our rhythm. The team is upbeat and ready for the first challenge,” he said on the eve of the tournament opener.
“We are aware that we go into this tournament as the highest-ranked team and we will aim to keep up the No.1 status,” Manpreet added.
The Asia Cup is the beginning of a new phase in Indian hockey as it will be the first test for newly-appointed coach Sjoerd Marijne, who replaced fellowman Roelant Oltmans.
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