In their third Pool A game at the Asian Games 2023, the Indian men’s hockey team claimed a crucial 4-2 win against the defending champions Japan.
On Thursday (September 28), the unbeaten Indian men’s team had a crucial schedule against another unbeaten side of the tournament and Jakarta-Palembang 2018 gold medallist, the Japan men’s team.
Despite winning their first two games by 16-0 (vs Uzbekistan) and 16-1 (vs Singapore), the Japan game was almost a must-win game for India to tighten their spot in the race for the Semifinals.
Asian Games 2023: Men’s Field Hockey – India (4) vs Japan (2); Abhishek scored a brace
Against Japan, India scored one goal in each of the first three quarters. In the early last quarter, India made the scoreline 4-0. Although Japan scored two very late goals, India ultimately won the match by 4-2.
Among the Indians, Abhishek scored twice (13’, 48’), while Mandeep Singh (24’) and Amit Rohidas (34’) scored once each. Genki Mitani and Ryosei Kato scored goals for Japan in the 57th and 60th minutes, respectively, but those couldn’t damage India’s confidence.
Indian Amit and Japanese Genki scored their goals from the penalty corners, while the other goals were field goals.
Earlier, in other Pool A games, Pakistan thrashed Uzbekistan by 18-2, and Bangladesh beat Singapore by 7-3. Till Thursday, India are leading the points table with nine points, equal to the second-placed team Pakistan.
In Pool B of the men’s field hockey, Oman beat Thailand by 5-3, and Malaysia claimed a 9-2 win against Indonesia. Meanwhile, the hosts China stunned South Korea by 3-2, despite trailing by 2-0 at the end of the third quarter.
Asian Games 2023: Men’s Field Hockey (Preliminary Round) Day 3 Match Results
(Pool A)
Uzbekistan 2 – Pakistan 18
Bangladesh 7 – Singapore 3
Japan 2 – India 4
(Pool B)
Oman 5 – Thailand 3
Indonesia 2 – Malaysia 9
China 3 – South Korea 2
Asian Games 2022: Men’s Field Hockey Points Tables (Preliminary Round)
Pool A
Team | Matches | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goal For | Goal Against | Goal Difference | Points |
India | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 3 | +33 | 9 |
Pakistan | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 4 | +30 | 9 |
Japan | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 19 | 7 | +12 | 6 |
Bangladesh | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 15 | −4 | 3 |
Singapore | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 34 | −30 | 0 |
Uzbekistan | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 44 | −41 | 0 |
Pool B
Team | Matches | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goal For | Goal Against | Goal Difference | Points |
Malaysia | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 3 | +26 | 9 |
China (Hosts) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 5 | +6 | 9 |
South Korea | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 22 | 3 | +19 | 6 |
Oman | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 17 | −9 | 3 |
Indonesia | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 24 | −21 | 0 |
Thailand | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 24 | −21 | 0 |
