Asian Games Hockey: India Women Beat Japan 3-1, Near Semifinals
India’s women’s hockey team defeated hosts Japan 3-1 for their fourth straight Asian Games win and moved closer to a semifinal berth.
India’s women’s hockey team moved closer to the Asian Games semifinals after defeating hosts Japan 3-1 on Friday for their fourth consecutive win in Pool B.
India made a quick start, with Lalremsiami opening the scoring in the fifth minute. Japan struggled to break through India’s organised defence, while India continued creating opportunities. Ishika Chaudhary doubled the lead just before half-time after converting from a rebound following a penalty corner.
India continued to dominate after the break and added a third goal in the 36th minute. Navneet Kaur produced a composed finish after clever stickwork created the opening, giving India a 3-0 advantage.
Japan eventually pulled one goal back in the final quarter when Shiho Kobayakawa scored with a powerful tomahawk from the top of the circle in the 46th minute. However, India’s defence remained composed during the closing stages and prevented the hosts from mounting a comeback.
The victory extends India’s remarkable start to the competition. The team had earlier defeated Uzbekistan 19-0, Indonesia 17-1 and Thailand 20-1, making Friday’s result their fourth straight victory.
India will now complete their Pool B campaign against Singapore on Sunday. With another dominant performance secured, the Indian women are edging closer to the knockout stage. At this rate, the scoreboard is practically becoming India’s favourite diary.
