India vs Japan hockey HIGHLIGHTS, Asian Games 2023 updates: Abhishek scores brace as IND defeats JPN 4-2

That’s all for the day! Check out Sportstar for a comprehensive ASIAN GAMES coverage.

Japan’s fight back in the form of two goals in the fourth quarter came very late as India were 4-0 up by then. Abhishek scored a brace for India, helping India take an early lead. India scored in every quarter, making it hard for the Japanese side to catch up.

Lalit attempts to score but Takashi scores. India asks for a review saying the ball deflects dangerously off Ken. The review gets denied. AND JAPAN COUNTER ATTACKS AS MASAKI PASSES TO RYOSEI, WHO TOMAHAWK’S THE BALL ABOVE SREEJESH! AND THE HOOTER IS SOUNDED. India wins 4-2 vs Japan!!!

Harmanpreet Singh’s tackle gets the ball back to the Indian side.

A counter-attack from the Japanese side leads to the ball touching the legs of Varun Kumar. Leading to two consecutive PC. Genki scores off deflection from Yamada.

Amit Rohidas’ deflection hits Vivek as Japan’s PC goes in vain as the dangerous ball is called out and India takes the ball.

Sanjay mispasses the ball to the Japanese forward leading to a Japanese PC. Tanaka gets hit on the face as Sreejesh saves the attempt but a deviation hits the Japanese player on the face.

Gurjant takes a shot but Takashi blocks it, which leads to the Japanese goalkeeper injuring his toe, which stopped the ball.

Sukhjeet inside the Japanese D and attempts to take a shot by turning around as the Japanese defenders surround him and make it difficult for him to get his way out.

Sumit and Sanjay defend the ball from the Indian circle. Harmanpreet dribbles it to Mandeep’s stick, who further passes to Abhishek AND HE MAKES NO MISTAKE AND SCORES!!!!

Sreejesh is back as he was in the second quarter. His instructions are clearly heard throughout the stadium.

Kosei tries to pass it to Kato who fails it to make it count for Japan and Harmanpreet makes a dangerous play leading to a long corner for Japan.

Japanese defence intercepts Indian attack inside the Japanese D, but take the ball as the Japanese defenders make their way outside the circle.

Hardik tries to break away on the left flank with Japanese defenders surrounding him.

Green card for Manpreet as he rough tackles the Japanese attackers and will be out in the bench for two minutes.

Long pass by Hardik, pass by Sukhjeet and India gets a PC. Amit Rohidas takes it, Lalit gets a rebound but India gets yet another PC. This time Rohidas makes it count for the second time.

Japan has ball position and is attacking from the right, now they go back to the centre-line and now is trying to penetrate into the Indian D via the left flank.

Shota is back after limping off as he took a blow to his knee courtesy Harmanpreet. Half-time score sees India taking a 2-0 lead against Japan.

India tries to attack from the right flank, but no luck that side.

India gets a PC, an attempt to make it 3-0 but a difference in tactic of back passing instead of drag flicking did not help India score a goal as Japanese defenders push the ball out.

Indians misses a fair chance to attack. AND INDIA MAKES IT COUNT AS MANDEEP CONVERTS NILKANTA’S FLICK PASS FROM OUTSIDE THE CIRCLE INTO A GOAL!!!!

Ken also seems injured. Yellow card is given to the Japanese captain Masaki. This means the Japanese side would have only 10 players on the field for 5 minutes.

In an attempt to dribble, Harmanpreet fails to counter-attack Japan.

Both the teams intercept each other, and Japan takes the ball as Raiki scoops inside the Indian D. However, the ball is cleared away from the D.

Takashi stops an Indian attempt to score a goal and there goes the hooter as the first quarter ends.

Shota is seen limping off after being a first rusher for Japan while India takes another PC. However, the ball was seen as dangerous, due to which India does not take its fourth PC against Japan.

Reverse stick goal by Abhishek as the ball is passed to him from outside the Japanese circle.

A dangerous play by Indians within the Indian circle, making it a PC for Japan. Japan fails to convert as the ball is flicked wide off the post.

Tanaka trying to pass to Kentaro but it is intercepted near the Indian circle. And India out of danger for now.

Manpreet goes down the left side trying to attack.

Gurjant earns India its first Penalty Corner of the match as he turns to catch the Japanese defender by surprise. Hardik to inject, Harmanpreet to flick. The ball goes wide off the post.

Sukhjeet near the post as Jarmanpreet gets the scoop and enters the Japanese circle, however, is unable to score a goal.

Gurjant tries to make into the Japanese circle but an infringement as the ball hits the Japanese defenders leg.

India starts. Jarmanpreet is unable to trap the ball, but makes a good attempt in the right flank nearing the Japanese D.

The two national anthems are being played and the stage is set.

The two teams have met 35 times, in which India have won 28 times, Japan have won thrice, and four games have ended in a draw.

The Indian men’s hockey team has been on a stellar run at the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022, having won their first two games with big margins. India defeated Uzbekistan 16-0 in their opening Pool A contest last week, and on Tuesday the side led by Harmanpreet Singh picked up their second consecutive victory, defeating Singapore 16-1.

India will gear up for perhaps their toughest challenge yet in the competition, as they take on the 2018 Asian Games Gold medallist Japan on Thursday.

Indian captain Harmanpreet Singh, who scored four goals against Singapore, said, “We are aware of the level of competition that we will face tomorrow. Japan have a strong unit and we are familiar with their strengths and weaknesses. We have to focus on our own style of play, but we have to also be ready to switch tactics as and when needed on the field to get a good result.”

Japan has also been unbeaten so far in the Games, defeating Bangladesh 7-2 in their first Pool A match, and then followed it up with a 10-1 win over Uzbekistan in their second game.

“Japan have plenty of goalscorers in their team, and hence our defence needs to be strong to tackle their attacking movements,” Harmanpreet said, before adding, “We have to constantly be aware of their movements, especially when we are out of possession, so that we can close the gaps on time, and do not allow them to dictate the pace of the game. It will be an interesting contest and we are all ready for it.”

India’s last meeting against Japan was in the semifinal of the Asian Champions Trophy Chennai 2023 last month, which India won 5-0. India also recorded a 1-1 draw against Japan in the same tournament in the Pool match.

Indian team vice-captain Hardik Singh said, “We have played against Japan recently, which gives us confidence going into the match. But at the same time, they have also seen our style of play quite recently, so they will also come up with strategies to counter the same. Hence, we expect it to be a close contest. If we make correct decisions on the field, we will get a positive result from the game.”

The last time the two teams faced each other was at the Asian Champions Trophy Chennai 2023 semifinals, where India defeated Japan 5-0.

The India vs Japan Asian Games match, which will take place at 6:15 PM IST on September 28, will be telecasted live on Sony Sports Network and Live stream on Sony Liv