A Gurjant Singh double helps India overcome home side Japan’s challenge with a thrilling 5-3 victory and qualify for knockouts as 2nd in their group.
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In an end-to-end clash, the Indian men’s hockey team produced a scintillating attacking display to register a 5-3 win over hosts Japan in Tokyo Olympics. Already assured of a quarterfinal berth going into the match, the Indian side have now cemented its last eight spot with a second-place finish in Pool A at the Olympics on Friday. India scored through Gurjant Singh (17th, 56th), Harmanpreet Singh (13th), Shamsher Singh (34th) and Nilakanta Sharma (51st) to seal their third successive win at the Oi Hockey Stadium.
Thanks to the 5-3 victory, India finished second in Pool A behind Australia. Meanwhile, the Kookaburras ended their pool engagements on top with four wins and a draw. India, with four victories out of five games, have lost only one game so far in this Olympics, which was a 1-7 drubbing against the group leaders Australia. In this Olympics, the top four teams from each pool of six qualify for the quarterfinals.
2️⃣ quick 2️⃣ handle!#IND’s Gurjant Singh struck twice in their 5-3 win over #JPN! ?#Tokyo2020 | #StrongerTogether | #UnitedByEmotion | #Hockey | #BestOfTokyo | @TheHockeyIndia pic.twitter.com/iaUcZDkwfe
— #Tokyo2020 for India (@Tokyo2020hi) July 30, 2021
Earlier, India started the match on the front foot by taking the game to the home side. Harmanpreet Singh scored India’s first of the night and his fourth goal of the tournament from a penalty corner just before the end of the first quarter.
India then started the second quarter with a goal as Gurjant Singh got down on the knees and deflected the ball home. It all started when Simranjeet was played through as he went for goal. The Japanese goalkeeper made the save charging off his line but Simranjeet stayed with the ball and hit it again towards the right post from where Gurjant Singh deflected it home. It’s his first goal in the competition.
Not long after Tanaka Kenta, who has looked the most threatening Japanese player on the pitch, scored to reduce the deficit for the home side. With the Japanese goalkeeper standing firm, India were not able to increase the advantage as half-time approached. It was a great half of football with both teams giving their all in the attacking play and defending their heart out in their own half.
At the start of the second half, Japan got the equaliser as Kota Watanabe turned out to be the goal scorer. But India’s response was swift. From the edge of the circle, Nilakanta Sharma went for the goal towards the left post. The ball was coming at chest-high and an unmarked Shamsher Singh deflected it into the net. India are back in front.
From there on it was one-way traffic as India were doing most of the attacking as the home side were doing the best from conceding any more goals. The third quarter ended with India leading 3-2. India started the final quarter the way they ended the previous one, which is on the front foot.
India got the reward for its attacking approach. From a delightful aerial pass from Harmanpreet from the right, India made the most of it with Nilakanta Sharma getting his name in the scoreline. Gurjant then put the game beyond any doubt to make it 5-2. Kazuma Murata reduced the deficit with less than a minute remaining for the hosts, but it was too little, too late for the home side as India emerged as comfortable winners in the end.
