Hockey: Indian men’s team won gold and Olympic ticket

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Hangzhou. The Indian men’s hockey team re-established its supremacy in the continent by thrashing defending champions Japan 5-1 on Friday to win the Asian Games gold medal and also qualify for next year’s Paris Olympics.

India has won the title for the fourth time in 19 editions of the Asian Games. The bonus he received for his consistent performances in the hockey competition in Hangzhou is a place at next year’s Paris Olympics in the form of the Asian Games in the qualifying tournament for the Olympics.

On Friday, India defeated Japan 5-1 in the final with the help of two goals from captain Harmanpreet Singh (32nd, 59th minute), while Manpreet Singh (25th minute), Amit Rohidas (36th minute) and Abhishek (48th minute). Scored goals. The only consolation goal for Japan was scored by Seiren Tanaka from an indirect penalty corner in the 51st minute.

This is India’s fourth gold medal after the Asian Games in Bangkok in 1966, Bangkok in 1998 and Incheon in 2014. India has also won nine silver medals and three bronze medals in the Asian Games so far.

India joined South Korea as the second most successful team in men’s hockey at the Asian Games with four gold medals. Pakistan is the most successful team with eight gold medals.

Both teams were struggling to find their footing in the first quarter and Japan did well to counter the Indian forwards. India had a few chances, including a penalty corner, but Japan goalkeeper Tsukumi Kitagawa stopped Harmanpreet’s drag flick.

The second quarter seemed to be following the same path with the Indians already looking for inspiration, their attempts to breach the Japanese defense proving futile as the Japanese defended stoutly.

The Tokyo Olympic Games bronze medalists, ranked fourth in the world, earned their second penalty corner in the period but could not capitalize.

But five minutes before the half-time hooter, India found some inspiration and a good attack resulted in their first goal. Former captain Manpreet Singh took advantage of the good attack and opened the scoring for India with a powerful shot.

After changing ends, India got three consecutive penalty corners and on the third, Harmanpreet Singh converted the rebound to make the score 2–0.

India continued to attack and with the support of the capacity crowd, they won another penalty corner in the 36th minute and this time Amit Rohidas scored with a direct drag flick to make it 3-0.

Abhishek, who had scored twice in India’s 4-2 win in the preliminary group stage in Hangzhou, scored India’s fourth goal when he forced his way into the shooting circle and fired a powerful shot past the goalkeeper.

For Japan, who earned their first penalty corner in the 51st minute, Seiren Tanaka put the ball into the goal, making the score 1–4.

After this, in the 59th minute, Harmanpreet Singh gave India another gold by hitting a drag flick and made the score 5-1.

This is India’s biggest win in the men’s hockey final of the Asian Games.
IANS

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