India lose hockey Test to Japan

The Indian women’s hockey team succumbed to their second successive defeat against Japan to go 0-2 down in the four-match series after their 1-4 loss at the Gifu Green Stadium in Kakamigahara on Sunday.

Having lost the first match of the series 0-3 on Friday, the Indians dished out a scrappy performance on a chilly and rainy afternoon to suffer another defeat. For Japan, Kama Nagayama (44th and 62nd minutes) sounded the boards twice, while Kaya Tameto (2nd) and Mie Nakashima (57th) chipped in with one goal each.
Rani Rampal scored India’s lone goal in the 48th minute, according to information received here. Japan was the dominant side from the onset as they opened their account as early as in the second minute when Tameto converted their first penalty-corner.

The hosts doubled the lead in the 44th minute from another penalty-corner strike through Nagayama. The Indians reduced the margin soon through Rani’s field goal. But Japan pumped in two field goals within a span of six minutes through Nakashima and Nagayama to seal the tie in their favour. The Japanese earned as many as eight penalty corners as against India’s two. The third match of the series will be played at the same venue on Monday.