Mandeep’s hat-trick take India to final

| | Tokyo
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Mandeep’s hat-trick take India to final

Wednesday, 21 August 2019 | PTI | Tokyo

Striker Mandeep Singh struck a fine hat-trick to help the Indian men’s hockey team beat hosts Japan 6-3 and book a summit clash berth in the Olympic Test Event here on Tuesday.

The Indian team bounced back from their 1-2 loss against New Zealand with an impressive display in their third match at the Oi Hockey Stadium here. India again face New Zealand in the summit clash today.

Mandeep found the target in the 9th, 29th and 30th minutes while Nilakanta Sharma (3rd), Nilam Sanjeep Xess (7th) and Gurjant Singh (41st) were the other scorers for India.

Kentaro Fukuda (25th), Kenta Tanaka (36th) and Kazuma Murata (52nd) scored the goals for Japan.

Nilakanta gave India an excellent start through a field goal in the third minute. Buoyed by the early lead, the Indian team put tremendous pressure on the Japan defence as Gurjant Singh took a shot on goal, but saw his effort going wide of the post.

However, a penalty corner was awarded to India in the seventh minute which was converted brilliantly by Nilam Sanjeep to help the team take a 2-0 lead.

India continued to take the aggressive approach and Mandeep found the back of the net with an excellent field goal in the ninth minute.

Japan managed to open their account through a field goal through Kentaro Fukuda in the 25th minute, but Mandeep scored two field goals in quick succession to help India take a big 5-1 lead. The Indian vice-captain scored just before the half-time whistle in the 29th and 30th minutes.

Japan started the third quarter on an aggressive note and kept putting pressure on the Indian defence and found a field goal through Kenta Tanaka in the 36th minute.

India did not let the momentum shift towards the Japanese side as forward Gurjant found the back of the net in the 41st minute to make it 6-2 which put the world number 5 side in a dominant position at the end of the third quarter.

Japan attacked the Indian defence in the the fourth quarter and scored their third goal through Kazuma Murata in the 52nd minute.

The win put India in the second spot in the points table and they face toppers New Zealand in the summit clash.

Eves top the table

Following an impressive performance against Australia, the Indian women’s hockey team also secured its place in the final by playing out a 0-0 draw against China.

China needed the victory to make sure that they progress to the final but India’s defense was up to the task, and seemed determined to consolidate their position at the top of the points table.

With a tally of five points from their three matches, India topped the points table, and will now face hosts and World No 14 Japan in the final today.

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