Japan hold India, women thrashed

AGE CORRESPONDENT

A last-minute equaliser by Japan denied India their second straight win at the 1st Asian men’s Champions Trophy at Ordos in China on Sunday.
Gurvinder Singh Chandi put India ahead in the 22nd minute but Japan fought back to level in the 69th minute through Shiokawa Naoto, according to information received here.

The initial quarter was played at a fast pace with both teams giving little away particularly in the midfield. Thereafter India appeared to take control and the ball was brilliantly slotted home by Chandi in the 22nd minute.

Rupinder Pal Singh received a 10-minute yellow card suspension for an accidental foot foul which increased their vulnerability. India conceded the equaliser when Naoto deflected in from an acute angle. India, who have four points from two fixtures, will clash with South Korea next on Tuesday.

Said chief coach Michael Nobbs, “They (Japan) were playing well in the second half. But we made some silly errors in the end and we paid for it.“

“We have to be fit to be able to play against much stronger sides,“ he added.

Earlier, the Indian women lost to South Korea by a 1-4 margin.

India missed two chances to break into an early lead but skipper Saba Anjum and Deepika failed to beat the Korean goalkeeper.

Thereafter the Koreans held sway scoring goals through Kim Hong Eun (19th min), Park Mi Hyun (37th min) and Cheun Seul Ki (55th min penalty corner). India reduced the margin in the 61st minute with a penalty corner hit by Joydeep Kaur, but the Koreans came back in the 69th minute with another penalty corner conversion by Cheon Seul Ki.

They next play Japan on Tuesday.