Asian Champions Trophy 2023 hockey: India set up final with Malaysia after 5-0 win over Japan

The Indian men’s hockey team blanked Japan 5-0 in the Asian Champions Trophy 2023 semi-finals at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium in Chennai on Friday.

Three-time champions India will now take on Malaysia in the Asian Champions Trophy final on Saturday. Malaysia progressed to their maiden final after ending the Republic of Korea’s title defence with a 6-2 win earlier in the day.

Akashdeep Singh (19’), Harmanpreet Singh (23), Mandeep Singh (30’), Sumit (39’) and Karthi Selvam (51’) scored the goals for India. PR Sreejesh was felicitated by Hockey India (HI) on the occasion of his 300th international match before the start of the semi-final.

India, who lost to Japan 5-3 in the semis two years ago in Dhaka, came out all guns blazing and got their first penalty corner in the second minute. Harmanpreet Singh’s drag-flick, however, was well-saved by the Japanese goalkeeper Takashi Yoshikawa.

Japan sprung a counter-attack and caught India, fourth in the hockey rankings, by surprise but the final shot went wide of the goal.

India, playing a half court press, used aerial passes and switched flanks to trouble the opposition. Japan defended deep to keep the scores 0-0 in the first quarter.

After a quiet first 15 minutes, both Japan and India increased their intensity in search of an advantage early in the second quarter.

Japan’s frequent circle penetrations early in the second quarter posed a threat to India but the hosts played like the top-ranked side in the tournament and pumped three past the world No. 19 Japan, the reigning Asian Games champions.

A collective team build-up started by former Indian hockey team captain Manpreet Singh and Harmanpreet Singh was neatly converted into a goal in the 19th minute by Akashdeep Singh.

Harmanpreet Singh, the top-scorer at the 2023 Asian Champions Trophy, netted his eighth goal of the tournament through a searing low drag-flick four minutes later.

Stunned by a double blow, Japan could not cope with India’s intensity and conceded a field goal in the final minute of the first half.

A blistering solo run from Manpreet Singh cut through Japan’s midfield and was followed by a precise strike at goal, which got the faint touch from Mandeep Singh for India’s third.

While there was not much to separate the two sides in terms of possession, the Indian hockey team had 13 circle penetrations compared to Japan’s five in the first half. India also won two penalty corners.

The circle penetrations, however, dried up for Japan in the next 30 minutes. India, meanwhile, added two to their goals tally.

Manpreet Singh was once again at the forefront of India’s attack for the fourth goal. He beat the Japanese defence to provide an assist to Sumit, who scooped the ball into the net to make it 4-0 in the 39th minute.

Karthi Selvam made it five for India in the 51st minute after Sukhjeet Singh’s selfless pass from inside the circle was converted neatly.

India will play Malaysia in the Asian Champions Trophy 2023 final on Saturday. Japan, meanwhile, will play Korea for the bronze.

Pakistan beat China 6-1 earlier in the day to finish fifth in the tournament.