Asian Hockey 2025 Live Updates: India beats Japan by 3-2 in Rajgir Bihar

It seems that Indian Hockey team have learned from their mistake in the last game against China where they won contest by 4-3 but they didn’t play their best hockey.

Coach Craig Fulton and Captain Harmanpreet Singh stated in interview “We need to work on our defense also the way we played is not up to the mark we missed several opportunities, which is not expected from us”

Talking about current match, Indian team have already extended their lead beyond 2 goals in the two quarter have brought them in driving seat.

When it comes to understanding Goals, it came from Mandeep Singh followed by amazing Skipper Harmanpreet Singh.

Considering the first few moments of the game, it is crystal clear that Indian team is all set to dominate Japan in the remaining 2 quarters.

When it comes to 3rd Quarter, Japan was looking to dominate in first few moments of the game, Indian team didn’t gave them chance to make comeback at all.

The best thing about 3rd Quarter, would be Indian team coordination among players where they brilliantly complementing each other.

The circle penetration from Indian team throughout the match with 14 times in retrospect to Japan 7 times.

The offensive game by Japan is not Up to the mark, after first few moments of the game, Mandeep was substituted with Hardik.

Japan tried hard to keep the possession on the ball, till the time of writing, A goal came from Japan with lackluster approach from Indian team in Quarter 3, one thing which we have seen from Indian team even in the last match, they let go China to score goals in Quarter 3 and the same happened in Japan’s Game where Indian defense allowed Japan to concede one goal.

Indian team needs to impose more attack, in order to extend goal scoring ability against Japan.

One thing we have seen in Q3, possession on the ball have been the biggest problem where Japan in first few minutes of Quarter 3 had a possession on the ball for most of the time.

We have seen Manpreet Singh having discussion with Craig Fulton in order to decide angles.

We have seen strategy from Craig Fulton Coach of Indian Hockey Team, where he consistantly switch Goalkeeper in alternate quarters.

India have constantly switched Krishan Bahadur Pathak and Suraj Karkera in alternate quarters with Karkera coming in 4th Quarter.

The league is extremely important for Indian hockey team as the winner gets a chance to qualify for FIH World Cup next year.

India have won this marquee event for record 3 times and they are one of the most favorite teams to win this event.

Indian Hockey team performance is not up to the mark, in the last few tournaments especially in FIH Pro League so they need to do well in this Upcoming event.

Eventually due to mistake committed by Raj Kumar Pal he was handed suspension fort t 2 minutes.

At the end of 3rd quarter, Mandeep Singh ensured India get penalty corner which would mean India will get a chance for Penalty corner, it all happened with Hardik being regular injector and Harmanpreet Singh India’s best Penalty Corner specalist scored another goal for India making India’s Lead towards 3-1 ahead oft last quarter.

With this  Goal India’s Harmanpreet Singh became one of the highest goalscorer of this tournament.

Let’s see whether he could extended his lead further for last quarter, also credit should be given to Hardik in order to make sure India get penalty corner ahead of 3rd quarter.

The crowd in Rajgir Bihar deserve huge credit for the way they have supported Indian team.

The moment last quarter, we saw both teams changing their goalkeeper with Suraj Karkera coming ahead of Quarter 4 start, Japan players are trying hard to ensure more possession on the ball.

Japan try hard to create Goal scoring opportunities , due to India’s Mistake by Sumit who deliberately touched the ball via stick, awarded penalty scoring opportunity to Japan, but Karkera did back to back amazing saves in order to bring Indian team back in the game, the way he saved could indicate that our goalkeeping is top notch mark.

India later gained possession on the ball from right flank and tried creating goal scoring opportunity also skipper Harmanpreet Singh is sitting outside in the stands as he has already scored 5 goals.

Harmanpreet Singh performance have been top notch and deserve credit for the way he has taken things via storm, also India has worked hard on their defense and learn from last game mistakes.

In last 10 minutes of the game, Japan is trying hard to penetrate India’s Defense, but credit should be given to Indian team for the way they didn’t let them comeback in the game.

In the last few moments of the game, India has referred against the Penalty corner being given to Japan and eventually Indian team Sumit who was trying to gather possession on the ball, India lost the referral and Japan have been awarded another penalty corner and Ken Nagayoshi and Shota Namata gets another chance to score goal for their squad it got deflected means they get another opportunity goal for them as first usher missed their line Karkera did that save and eventually thrice opportunity given to them for Penalty corner got saved by brilliant goalkeeper Suraj Karker.

Finally the India losing some key moments gave opportunity to Koshe Kababe to score goal for Japan with the scoreline being 3-2 in favor of India.

India needs to work on their defense under 2 minutes remain in the game, a mistake committed by Indian skipper Harmanpreet Singh was given yellow card which means Men in Blue would be playing with 10 men with 2 minutes remaining in the game,  in the last minutes, Japan ensured that they get possesion on the ball most of the time, with 10 seconds remaining in the game, India tried to slow their game and eventually hooter rang and Men in Blue beats Japan by 3-2 to win this important encounter.

Overall a great game of Hockey we have witnessed in Rajgir Bihar, and deserve credit however they need to work on their weakness going forward otherwise good teams could possibly expose them.

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