Jakarta: Defending champions India will face their first real test when they take on an unpredictable Japan in a Pool A match at the 18th Asian Games, here Friday.
It has so far been a cakewalk for India in the opening two matches of Pool A here as they demolished hosts Indonesia 17-0 before recording their biggest win in international hockey when they annihilated Hong Kong China 26-0.
Ranked fifth in the world, India would again start as overwhelming favourites against World No.16 Japan, but it would be Harendra Singh and his men’s first real test in the Games as Japan are no pushovers and they have the ability to surprise higher-ranked opponents on their day.
India are currently leading Pool A with two wins out of as many games. Korea and Japan too have registered two wins each but the Indians are ahead of the pack by virtue of better goal difference.
While the Indian think-tank took the first two games to experiment with their squad, Harendra has already made it clear that their real campaign in the Asian Games starts from the match against Japan.
No we are not complacent, in spite of the number of goals we have scored. Our aim is gold and for that we are very keen to do well in every game
Harendra Singh – Coach
“For me, those two matches were practice matches. Our Asian Games campaign really starts, Friday against Japan,” Harendra told reporters, Thursday here.
Most of the Indian players found their name on the scoresheet in the first two games, but it remains to be seen how the Indian attack deal against the gritty Japanese defence in the next game.
But what could be a worrying factor for Harendra is that the Indian defence has been hardly tested in the first two games and it remains to be seen how Sreejesh and Co deal with the pressure from the Japanese forwards in the next match.
But all said and done, being the top-ranked side in the competition the Indians are expected to win comfortably against Japan and only a disastrous outing can change the script.
