Kuantan, Malaysia, May 15: Tushar Khandekar scored a brace as India thrashed Japan 5-1 to finish fifth in the Asia Cup hockey tournament at the Wisma Belia stadium here today.
For India, who led 2-1 at half time, Khandekar (64th, 69th min) scored a couple of goals, while captain Sandeep Singh (22nd min), Rajpal Singh (1st min) and Prabodh Singh (66th min) were target once each.
For Japan the lone goal came through Hiroki Sakamoto just three minutes before the lemon break.
India, who spanked Bangladesh 11-1 in their last encounter yesterday, took less than a minute to get themselves on the board as a field attempt from Rajpal Singh put them in the lead.
Captain Sandeep Singh then extended the lead with his trademark penalty corner flick that gave his team a 2-0 lead in the 22nd minute, but Hiroki Sakamoto reduced the deficit for Japan three minutes before half time.
Trailing 1-2 at half-time, Japan launched a wave attack but soon after ran out of steam as India took control of the game and scored at a fast pace in the dying moments of the game.
The defending champions scored three goals in the final 10 minutes through Khandker and Prabodh Singh to secure a comfortable win.
With this win, India’s campaign at the Asia Cup came to an end as they had earlier failed to make it to the semi-finals with a 2-3 defeat against arch-rivals Pakistan and a 2-2 draw against China.
China and Malaysia will play for third spot tomorrow, while Pakistan and Korea will also fight it out against each other with the winner getting the only spot available in next year’s World Cup in New Delhi. (Agencies)
For India, who led 2-1 at half time, Khandekar (64th, 69th min) scored a couple of goals, while captain Sandeep Singh (22nd min), Rajpal Singh (1st min) and Prabodh Singh (66th min) were target once each.
For Japan the lone goal came through Hiroki Sakamoto just three minutes before the lemon break.
India, who spanked Bangladesh 11-1 in their last encounter yesterday, took less than a minute to get themselves on the board as a field attempt from Rajpal Singh put them in the lead.
Captain Sandeep Singh then extended the lead with his trademark penalty corner flick that gave his team a 2-0 lead in the 22nd minute, but Hiroki Sakamoto reduced the deficit for Japan three minutes before half time.
Trailing 1-2 at half-time, Japan launched a wave attack but soon after ran out of steam as India took control of the game and scored at a fast pace in the dying moments of the game.
The defending champions scored three goals in the final 10 minutes through Khandker and Prabodh Singh to secure a comfortable win.
With this win, India’s campaign at the Asia Cup came to an end as they had earlier failed to make it to the semi-finals with a 2-3 defeat against arch-rivals Pakistan and a 2-2 draw against China.
China and Malaysia will play for third spot tomorrow, while Pakistan and Korea will also fight it out against each other with the winner getting the only spot available in next year’s World Cup in New Delhi. (Agencies)
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