Japan clamp India in Asian Champions Trophy opener

India players fail to get past Japanese goalkeeper Yoshikawa Takashi in a goal-mouth melee at Chennai yesterday. Pic/PTI

World No. 19 Japan showed No. 4 India why rankings don't matter in modern hockey. The reigning Asian Games champions defended stoutly for a stunning 1-1 draw in a closely contested Asian Champions Trophy encounter here on Friday. Ken Nagayoshi (28th minute) converted off only their second penalty corner, beating India goalkeeper Krishan Pathak with a low shot to his left, after which India skipper Harmanpreet Singh (43rd min) scored off their 10th short corner. India got another five penalty corners, but it was the same wasteful story by their drag-flickers. Speaking of wastefulness though, India's forwardline must take the cake in this aspect.

India fail to convert

Sukhjeet Singh, Gurjant Singh, Hardik Singh, Shamsher Singh and Mandeep Singh were almost toothless as the Japanese defence stayed low and dug in hard, thwarting them time and again with fierce flat-sticks almost scraping the newly-laid turf. Their goalkeeper Takashi Yoshikawa spearheaded the defence brilliantly, throwing himself at almost every ball that came his way as Harmanpreet Singh & Co seemed desperate for most part of the hour-long encounter. The signs were ominous 24 hours earlier, when India let World No. 25 China breach their defence twice. Japan simply added insult to that injury with this draw.

On September 1, 2018, when Japan beat a fancied Malaysia via shootout to clinch the hockey gold at the Asian Games in Jakarta, the Indian team members sitting in the stands of the GBK Stadium were stunned. Having lost to Malaysia in the semis, defending champions India least expected Japan to win the final, considering they had hammered the Japanese 8-0 in the league phase. On Friday, with a little over a month to go for the Asian Games (September 23 to October 8), the champions showed the hosts here just why they remain a force to reckon with yet again. After a day's break, India take on Malaysia - another opponent who stunned them at that Asian Games in Jakarta. Here's hoping history doesn't repeat itself on Sunday.

Also Read: Asian Champions Trophy: Chinese Checkers!

Malaysia thrash China

Earlier, Malaysia romped to a 5-1 win over China. The Chinese got an early field goal through Chongcong Chen (4th minute), but after that, it was Malaysia all the way. Faiszal Saari netted the equaliser off a penalty corner after which Abu Kamal Azrai netted a brace (45th and 49th) while Firhan Ashari (49th) and Najmi Jazlan added a goal each to complete the tally.