Rajgir (Bihar): Skipper Harmanpreet Singh continued to play awe-inspiring hockey, scoring a brace as India defeated a fighting Japan 3-2 to qualify for the Super Four stage of the Hero Men’s Asia Cup here on Sunday.
After scoring a hat-trick in the opener against China, Harmanpreet (5th, 46th minutes) converted two penalty corners, while Mandeep Singh struck a fine field goal in the fourth minute to give the hosts a deserving win.
Captain Harmanpreet Singh proved decisive once again, scoring a brace to guide the hosts past a resilient Japanese side. Harmanpreet struck first in the fifth minute, giving India an early advantage, and added his second goal in the 46th minute to restore the team’s lead after Japan had temporarily equalised. Mandeep Singh had set the tone for India with an early strike in the fourth minute, ensuring that the team started the match on a strong note.
For Japan, Kosei Kawabe (38th, 58th minutes) scored both the goals.
Despite Kawabe’s efforts, India managed to hold on, demonstrating composure and experience in defence, particularly in the final moments of the match.
This win followed India’s narrow 4-3 victory over China in their Asia Cup opener on Friday, highlighting the hosts’ competitive edge and attacking prowess in the tournament so far.
With back-to-back wins, India have positioned themselves strongly in Pool A and will look to maintain momentum when they face Kazakhstan in their final pool match on Monday.
