Team India claimed a huge 6-0 victory over Japan
The Indian hockey team crushed Japan by 6-0 to remain unbeaten in the final group stage match on Sunday.
Vice-captain Harmanpreet Singh has been a revelation not just at the back but from the penalty corners as well, converting two against Japan (10th and 53rd minute), while Dilpreet Singh (23rd), Jaramnpreet Singh (34th), Sumit (46th) and Shamsher Singh (54th) also registered their names on the scoresheet for India at the Maulana Bhasani Hockey Stadium.
India finished at the top of the table with 10 points in the group stage, ahead of Korea (6), Japan (5), Pakistan (2), and the hosts Bangladesh (0).
Hockey India tweeted, “#MenInBlue are at the top of the table, at the end of the league phase.”
This was India’s third straight win with zero losses in the tournament.
India held to a draw by Korea in their opening match but then Manpreet Singh led side turned things around defeating the hosts by 9-0, then defeating their arch-rivals Pakistan by 3-1 and later Japan to enter the semis of the tournament.
“A magnificent win over Japan” Hockey India tweeted.
“India ends the group stage of the Hero Men’s Asian Trophy Dhaka 2021 with a Bang! A clean sheet and a six-goal victory.” Hockey India added.
The dominant victory will be a huge boost for India as they head into the business end of the tournament with lots of confidence. Indian team outperformed Japan, the Asian Games gold medallists, in all departments.
India and Pakistan are the joint defending champions of the Men’s Trophy as they were declared joint winners of the 2018 Men’s Asian Champions Trophy.
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