India crushed Japan by 6-0 in hockey

Indian Men’s Hockey Team continued their unbeaten run, easing past Japan with a 6-0 win at the Hero Men’s Asian Champions Trophy on Sunday.

Harmanpreet Singh, (10’, 53’) Dilpreet Singh (23’), Jarmanpreet Singh (34’), Sumit (46’), and Shamsher Singh (54’) scored the goals for India which puts them in contention for their third consecutive title at the Asian Champions Trophy.

India won the prestigious tournament in 2016 and were one of the joint winners in 2018.

India’s dynamic front line started troubling Japanese defence as soon as the hooter blew, as they received a flurry of penalty corners early on in the first quarter.

Defender Harmanpreet Singh made the most of the opportunity in the 10th minute, as he converted it into the 1st goal for India.

As soon as the second quarter started, Japan started working hard to find the equaliser. In the 21st minute, Japan received a penalty corner, but once again, the Indian defence was up to the task and denied Japan the equaliser. Dilpreet Singh continued his goal-scoring form, as he put the ball back into the nets in the 23rd minute to score the 2nd goal for India. Japan received another penalty corner in the dying minutes of the second quarter but were yet again unable to breach India’s defence.

Jarmanpreet Singh scored from a reverse hit in the 34th minute to extend India’s lead to 3-0. India

 Early on in the fourth and final quarter, Sumit scored the fourth goal in the 46th minute after India surprised Japan’s defence with quick penetrations and passes. Japan’s defence faltered, awarding India a late penalty corner, and Harmanpreet Singh converted it into a goal with ease, adding in the 5th goal for India in the 53rd minute. A minute later, Shilanand Lakra combined with Shamsher Singh as the latter scored the 6th goal for India in the 54th minute. Japan made penetrating runs in the final few minutes, but Team India maintained their calm and came away with another clean sheet, winning the match 6-0.

India will play in the Semifinal of Asian Champions Trophy on Tuesday.