Press Trust of India
Ipoh (Malaysia), April 6: Asian Games champions India came from a goal down to clinch an unimpressive 2-1 victory over hard-working Japan on the opening day of the 25th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament, here Wednesday.
India managed to earn full points against the lowly-ranked rivals through goals from young drag-flicker Harmanpreet Singh (24th minute) and captain Sardar Singh (32nd) after Kenji Kitazato (17th) gave Japan the lead.
In their opening match, India struggled to find a leeway through the hard-working Japanese outfit, nine of whose 18-member squad is making their international debut in this event.
After an early foray into the Japanese circle, the Indian strikers were not allowed to have a clear look at the goal by their rivals, who also managed to assert some pressure on the Indian defenders.
SV Sunil’s deflection on a diagonal cross from Ramandeep Singh went over the bar before Japan stunned the Indian defence in the 17th minute with Kitazato converting Japan’s first penalty corner by beating Harjot Singh with a flick.
Stung by the reverse, the Indians began to exert pressure and were rewarded with their first penalty corner that Harmanpreet converted. Skipper Sardar then capitalised on a short diagonal pass from Jasjit Singh Kular on the right wing to beat Japanese goalkeeper Takashi Yoshikawa with a reverse shot that went into the far corner of the goal.
Indian strikers then had more than a couple of chances to deflect crosses into the Japanese goal, but were often caught on the wrong foot. India will next play World Champions, Australia here Thursday.
Chief coach Roelant Oltmans said he was always confident of winning the encounter against Japan even after a rusty start. “We did not have a good start, but then it was our opening tie of the tournament,” said Oltmans, insisting that the young players he had fielded would gain a lot from playing in this event.
“Not even for a second did I not believe we would win this match. We will improve as the event progresses and the young players settle down,” Oltmans added.