Overpower defending champions Japan 5-1, to qualify for Paris Olympics

An all-round team performance by the Indian Hockey team saw them defeat defending Champions Japan 5-1 (HT 1-0) in the summit clash of the Men's Hockey event of the ongoing 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022.  In the process the Harmanpreet Singh side won the Men's Field Hockey title at the Asian Games for the fourth time and comes at the back of their recent triumph at the Asian Champions Trophy 2023 and  earn India a direct entry to the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Bronze medalist and number current FIH three ranked team India had previously won the Gold medal in 1966, 1998, and in 2014. 

The strategy to play high-press hockey and constantly put the Japanese defence under pressure paid dividends as ace drag flicker and defender Harmanpreet (32', 59') scored a brace through penalty corners while star forward Manpreet Singh (25'), Amit Rohidas (36') and Abhishek (48') scored a goal each for the winning side in the Final. Seren Tanaka (51') scored the sole goal for the losers after successful conversion of a penalty corner.

For their dominant performance and the all-important victory, Hockey India announced a prize of Rs. 5 Lakhs for each player of the Indian Men's Hockey Team which remained unbeaten through out the multi- disciplinary games, along with Rs 2.50 Lakhs each for the support staff.

Earlier South Korea registered a hard fought 2-1 (HT 1-1) in the 3rd-4th place classification match for the Bronze Medal. While former champions Pakistan defeated Asian Champions Trophy finalist Malaysia 5-2 (HT 1-1) in the 5th-6th classification match.

The match began with India in attack as Hardik Singh and Jarmanpreet Singh combined on the left flank to try and stitch a dangerous move, but the duo were stopped in their tracks by the men in red. With both India and Japan trying to play on the counter-attacks, the contest turned into a game of tight passes in the midfield area. A late penalty corner saw Harmanpreet Singh hammering a thunderous flick on target but Japan goalkeeper Takumi Kitagawa made the save and the score remained 0-0 at the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter started with India earning an early penalty corner to earn a chance to get off the mark. But after a stunning variation on the set-piece, the final shot by Amit Rohidas went just above the goalpost. India started gaining momentum as they stretched Japanese defenders across the length of the pitch. Manpreet Singh (25') finally broke the threshold as he slammed a powerful reverse hit into the nets after picking up a loose ball inside the circle and India went into halftime with a 1-0 lead.

As soon as the second half began, Japan put a foot on the pedal in search of an equalizer. But Hardik Singh's magnificent long pass inside the circle to Abhishek in the circle brought the Japanese defenders back to their half. Harmanpreet Singh (32') made the most of a string of penalty corners as India doubled their lead to take control of the proceedings. Minutes later, Amit Rohidas (36') slammed a powerful flick towards the nets from another penalty corner to make it 3-0 for India, as errors in defence started costing Japan. Despite a three-goal lead, India maintained a full press on the Japanese defence, not allowing the opposition any room to make a move of their own as the third quarter came to a close.

India continued to put pressure on Japan as Abhisek (48') tapped the ball into the nets early on in the final quarter to make it 4-0 for his side. Japan earned a penalty corner of their own after building a move from the right flank, and Seren Tanaka (51') managed to score to get Japan on the board. Japan tried to mount a late attack but India defended in numbers. Harmanpreet Singh (59') hammered another goal at the stroke of the final whistle as India won the match 5-1 to claim the Gold medal.

Speaking on India's massive win, Hockey India President Padma Dr. Dilip Tirkey said, "It has been a long wait of 9 years for India to claim the Asian Games Gold medal. We are proud of each and every member of the team and the support staff for their contribution to achieving yet another milestone for the nation in world hockey. This is only the start of the road to the 2024 Paris Olympics and we are confident our team will continue to rise even more in the coming year. Congratulations to all the players and the coaches for a memorable victory in Hangzhou."

Hockey India Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh added, "India's Gold medal win in Hangzhou is a testament to the months of hard work that was put in the National Coaching Camps over the past year. Each and every member of the team and the coaching staff gave their all in helping us win the Gold medal at the Asian Games and securing a spot for the 2024 Paris Olympics. I congratulate the Indian Men's Hockey Team for an outstanding display in the tournament and also offer my best wishes to all the members of the team for the coming future."