Asian Champions Trophy: Japan stun India 5-3 to arrange title conflict in opposition to Korea

Defending champions and Olympic bronze medallist India suffered a shocking 3-5 defeat in opposition to Japan within the second semifinal of the Asian Champions Trophy males’s hockey match right here on Tuesday.
India had been the overwhelming favourites earlier than the beginning of the match after having thrashed the identical opponents 6-0 of their final round-robin match and in addition on head-to-head report, however the Japanese had different plans.
The Japanese regarded a very totally different aspect on Tuesday as they toyed with the defence of the Manpreet Singh-led aspect from the start.
Japan scored by Shota Yamada (1st minute, penalty), Raiki Fujishima (2nd minute), Yoshiki Kirishita (14th), Kosei Kawabe (thirty fifth) and Ryoma Ooka (forty first).
India’s objectives had been scored by Dilpreet Singh (seventeenth minute), vice-captain Harmanpreet Singh (forty third) and Hardik Singh (58th).
India and Japan had met 18 occasions earlier than with the hosts successful 16 video games, whereas Japan emerged victorious on one event and one led to a draw.
Japan will now tackle South Korea within the summit conflict, whereas India will probably be as soon as once more up in opposition to Pakistan within the bronze medal conflict on Wednesday.

The match led to a anti-climax for India as after having topped the spherical robin levels with an unbeaten report.
In the opposite semifinal of the day, South Korea beat Pakistan 6-5 in an exciting contest.