India, the defending champions, showcased their dominance in the men’s Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament with a resounding 5-1 victory over Japan on Monday. This win marked their second consecutive triumph in the tournament.
Sukhjeet Singh was the star of the show, scoring a brace in the second and 60th minutes. Abhishek (3rd), Sanjay (17th), and Uttam Singh (54th) added their names to the scoresheet for India, further solidifying their control over the match. Matsumoto Kazumasa managed to pull one back for Japan in the 41st minute, but it proved to be too little, too late.
India, led by Harmanpreet Singh, converted two penalty corners compared to Japan’s five. The team will now face Malaysia, the runner-up from the last edition, on Wednesday. Tuesday will be a rest day for the Indian squad.
The top four teams from the round-robin league will advance to the semifinals, scheduled for September 16th. The final match is set for September 17th.
India’s strong performance against Japan is a promising sign as they aim to defend their Asian Champions Trophy title. Their upcoming match against Malaysia will be another crucial test as the team strives for a place in the semifinals.
