Striker Mandeep Singh struck a fine hat-trick to help the Indian men's hockey group beat hosts Japan 6-3 and book a summit clash berth in the Olympic Test Event in Tokyo on Tuesday.
The Indian group bounced back from their 1-2 loss against New Zealand with a noteworthy showcase in their third match at Tokyo's Oi Hockey Stadium. India again faces New Zealand in the summit clash on Wednesday.
Mandeep found the goal in the ninth, 29th and 30th moment while Nilakanta Sharma (third), Nilam Sanjeep Xess (seventh) and Gurjant Singh (41st) were different scorers for India.
Kentaro Fukuda (25th), Kenta Tanaka (36th) and Kazuma Murata (52nd) scored the goals for Japan.
Nilakanta gave India a phenomenal begin through a field goal in the third moment. Floated by the early lead, the Indian group put huge pressure on the Japan guard as Gurjant Singh made a go on goal, however, observed his exertion going wide of the post.
Be that as it may, a penalty corner was awarded to India in the seventh moment which was changed over splendidly by Nilam Sanjeep to enable the group to take a 2-0 lead.
India kept on adopting the forceful strategy and Mandeep found the back of the net with an amazing field goal in the ninth minute.
Japan attempted to make advances over the most recent couple of minutes of the first quarter as they won a penalty corner. Gurinder Singh situated himself splendidly and shielded the shot on the goal line. India drove 3-0 at the end of the first quarter.
India proceeded with their assaulting game in the second quarter with Jarmanpreet Singh making a go on goal, however putting it wide of the post. Skipper Harmanpreet Singh had a shot on goal, however, the Japanese goalkeeper Takashi Yoshikawa pulled off a splendid spare.
Japan figured out how to open their record through a field goal through Kentaro Fukuda in the 25th minute, however, Mandeep scored two field goals with hardly a pause in between to enable India to take a major 5-1 lead. The Indian vice-captain scored just before the half-time whistle in the 29th and 30th minutes.
Japan began the second from last quarter on a forceful note. They made a go on goal, which was shut out splendidly by goalkeeper Krishan Pathak. Be that as it may, the Japanese group continued putting pressure on the Indian barrier 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 fourth quarter and scored their third goal through Kazuma Murata in the 52nd minute.
India were awarded a penalty corner with five minutes left on the clock, but the shot went wide off the post. India also saved a penalty corner in the dying minutes of the match.
The win put India in the second spot in the points table and they face toppers New Zealand in the summit clash on Wednesday.
