New Delhi: India’s excellent performance continues in Hockey Asia Cup 2025. In their second match played in Rajgir on Sunday, India defeated Japan 3-2. With this win, India has taken strong steps towards the semi-finals. Harmanpreet Singh scored two goals and Mandeep Singh scored one goal for India. Kosi Kawabe scored two goals for Japan.
India started aggressively in the first quarter itself. In the third minute, Mandeep Singh scored a brilliant field goal to put India ahead 1-0. Only two minutes had passed when India took advantage of Japan’s mistake and got a penalty corner. Captain Harmanpreet Singh put the ball in the goalpost without any mistake. India took a 2-0 lead in the first quarter.
No goal was scored in the second quarter
Japan tried to make a comeback in the second quarter. The team got three penalty corners but could not convert any of them into a goal. India also got a penalty corner but could not take advantage. At the same time, Amit Rohidas got a green card in the 22nd minute. He remained out of the field for two minutes. The second quarter remained goalless. India remained ahead with a 2-0 lead till half time.
Kosi brought Japan back
Kosi Kawabe gave Japan a chance to make a comeback in the third quarter. In the 37th minute, Kawabe scored a field goal to bring Japan to 2-1. However, just before the end of the third quarter, India got a penalty corner. Captain Harmanpreet scored without missing a goal to increase India’s lead to 3-1. However, before this Rajkumar Pal got a green card.
Japan lagged behind in the end
In the last quarter, India and Japan initially played defensively. However, two minutes before the end of the game, Japan got a penalty corner. Kosi Kawabe took the strike and scored a goal. Now Japan was at a score of 3-2. In the 59th minute Harmanpreet Singh got a yellow card. India’s worry increased but other players did not let Japan score any more goals and India won the match 3-2.