India vs Japan, Hockey World Cup 2023 HIGHLIGHTS: India Hammer Japan 8-0 In Classification Match

India vs Japan, Hockey World Cup 2023: Mandeep Singh, Abhishek, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Harmanpreet Singh, Manpreet Singh and Sukhjeet Singh were the goalscorers for India against Japan on Thursday.

Background

The hopes of ending their title drought since 1975 may have been over for India but they would still want to finish on a high by winning their remaining fixtures at the Hockey World Cup staged at their home. The first of those matches will be against Asian rivals Japan at the Birsa Munda Stadium in Rourkela later this evening. The Men in Blue would want to secure a place in the 9/10th classification match on Thursday.While a win against lower-ranked New Zealand would have given the Tokyo 2020 Bronze medallists a chance to play Belgium in the quarterfinals, a defeat there meant the hosts were eliminated from the title race. However, they would still be under pressure here in this match cause a slip up here could prove to be even more embarrassing for the home team as they will then see their worst-ever finish at a Hockey World Cup.If India lose here to The Samurais, they would be playing the 13th-16th classification match and will finish lower than their previous worst finish of 12th at the 1986 World Cup in London-  scenario they would not want especially when playing at their home. India vs Japan- Head-to-headMatches- 32India- 26Japan- 3Draw- 3Squads:India: PR Sreejesh (gk), Krishna Pathak (gk), Armanpreet Singh, Surender Kumar, Harmanpreet Singh (Captain), Varun Kumar, Amit Rohidas, Nilam Sanjeep Xess, Manpreet Singh, Hardik Singh (ruled out), Nilakanta Shar, Shamsher Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Akashdeep Singh, Mandeep Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Abhishek, Sukhjeet SinghReserves: Rajkumar Pal, Jugraj SinghHead Coach: Graham ReidJapan: Koji Yamasaki, Shota Yamada, Yusuke Kawamura, Yamato Kawahara, Seren Tanaka (captain), Kentaro Fukuda, Taiki Takade, Takuma Niwa, Raiki Fujishima, Ken Nagayoshi, Hiro Saito, Ryosei Kato, Ryoma Ooka, Masaki Ohashi, Kaito Tanaka, Kisho Kuroda (gk), Masato Kobayashi, Takashi Yoshikawa(gk)Reserves: Yuma Nagai, Hiromasa OchiaiHead coach: Akira Takahashi

26/01/2023 21:05:45

Good night

That brings us to the end of our coverage for this match. That's exactly the kind of win Indian fans would have been hoping for especially after their hopes shattered post a defeat to New Zealand. It should lift their morale. That's it from here for now. We will be back with more sporting coverage. Keep following ABP Live For the latest news from India and around the world. Good night.

26/01/2023 21:00:16

Abhishek Gets The Player Of The Match

Abhishek Gets The Player Of The Match award for scoring a brace. Both of his goals were field goals coming in the 35th and the 43rd minutes of the match.

26/01/2023 20:55:09

IND 8-0 JAP- That's the final scoreline

IND 8-0 JAP- That's the final scoreline. What a night for India. After a goalless first half, India ended up winning the match 8-0. 6 of their players scored while 2 scored a brace.

26/01/2023 20:50:01

Another GOAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLL!

Sukhjeet Singh joins the party. His second goal of the tournament, first tonight. India take 8-0 lead.

26/01/2023 20:46:57

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!

Harmanpreet Singh is back and roaring. Second goal of the evening for him. The world-class drag flick is back on display. IND 7-0 JAP

26/01/2023 20:45:30

India Get A Penalty Corner In The Final Minute

India Get A Penalty Corner In The Final Minute. Will they make it 7-0?

26/01/2023 20:41:58

GOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!

Manpreet Singh nets the sixth goal for India.  A field goal this time around. Seems like the final nail in the Japanese coffin tonight or has India got more goals coming? IND 6-0 JAP

26/01/2023 20:38:58

Abhishek in with a chance

An evening to remember for Abhishek. 2 goals already and he was in with an outside chance here. But no more goal.

26/01/2023 20:36:56

India with 64% possession

India with 64% possession. But now they also have 5-0 lead to go with that majority of possession.

26/01/2023 20:35:48

Japan Intercepts

Japan intercepts. Tough game for them but can they pull one back here.

26/01/2023 20:32:44

Chance For Japan

Against the run of play, a chance for Japan but no damage done. IND 5-0 JAP

26/01/2023 20:31:00

Goals Galore For India in Second Half

Goals Galore For India in Second Half. India did dominate the first half too but failed to convert their chances. The second half has been more clinical for them.

26/01/2023 20:28:39

GOAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLL!

IND 5-0 JAP Harmanpreet SCOREESSSSSSSSSS! Finds the left corner. The Indian captain finally converts the penaly. Massive lead for India now.

26/01/2023 20:27:29

Penalty Corner For India Early in Quarter four

Penalty Corner For India Early in Quarter four.

26/01/2023 20:25:24

That's the end of quarter three

Finally the quarter where India produced goals. One led to another and by the end of it they had taken a 4-0 lead. Abhishek with a brace- one from the penalty corner, the other a field goal with a great finish on that reverse stick.

26/01/2023 20:26:55

GOAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!

IND 4-0 JAP- What a goal. Second one of the evening for Abhishek. This time it was a field goal. Great power on that reverse stick from the Indian star.

26/01/2023 20:20:25

Japan Lose Their Referral, Another Penalty Corner For India

Japan Lose Their Referral, Another Penalty Corner For India. Will it be 4-0 in favour of India now?

26/01/2023 20:15:36

GOAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!

IND 3-0 Vivek Sagar Prasad scores on the rebound after India were awarded back to back penalty corners.

26/01/2023 20:13:51

Penalty Corner For India

Mandeep Singh Misses Goal Scoring Chance But India Get Penalty Corner.

26/01/2023 20:11:56

India Keep Their Referral

India Keep Their Referral. It was the stick and not the foot so they had opted for a referral as the Umpire had awarded another penalty corner to Japan thinking the ball had the foot first. After the review, it's a long corner.

26/01/2023 20:09:38

Penalty Corner For Japan

Penalty Corner For Japan this time after a good save by India. Can they save again?

26/01/2023 20:07:52

GOAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLL!

India 2-0 Japan. Abhishek Nets A Field Goal For India. Men in Blue Double Their Lead.

26/01/2023 20:06:31

GOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLL!

IND 1-0 JAP Mandeep Singh scores for India. India convert the penalty corner and happy visuals for the home team. Loud Cheer by the crowd.

26/01/2023 20:02:12

Penalty Corner For India In Early Minutes Of Third Quarter

Penalty Corner For India In Early Minutes Of Third Quarter. India's referral for a defender's foot inside the circle and replays confirmed there indeed was a foot on that. India keep their referral.

26/01/2023 19:59:22

Third Quarter Gets Underway

India would be looking to get their finishing on point. 

26/01/2023 19:51:54

Two missed chance for Lalit in the second quarter

Two missed chance for Lalit too in that second quarter. Twice did India penetrate the circle with Lalit on the charge but couldn't find the back of the net.

26/01/2023 19:49:38

It's Half-time

0-0. Not the ideal half for India. The Men in Blue would have wanted to take a lead ideally. They had better possession as well as circle penetrations but just haven't been to get the desired finish.

26/01/2023 19:44:50

Jarmanpreet Singh's Cross In Vain

Jarmanpreet Singh's Cross In Vain. No Indian attacker is able to reach it. Another chance missed.

26/01/2023 19:41:43

Another chance missed by Abhishek

Another chance missed by Abhishek. He entered the Japanese circle, trying to gently tap it in but the Japandese defensive ball doesn't let him get it past them.

26/01/2023 19:40:24

Sreejesh With Back to Back Saves

Japan have had their chances too. Another one in the second quarter there almost deceived and beat every other defender but Sreejesh on time came forward to push the ball to safety. He is needed quickly for a second save and he does well.

26/01/2023 19:37:31

India with 57% of ball possession so far

India with 57% of ball possession so far. Another stat which shows their dominance but no goals to their credit yet.

26/01/2023 19:35:56

11 Circle Penetrations For India So Far

11 Circle Penetrations For India So Far compared to Japan's 4 but what matters the most is the scoreline is still 0-0.

26/01/2023 19:35:02

Masaki Ohashi Goes Out With An Injury

Masaki Ohashi Goes Out With An Injury After India's Penalty Corner. Long Corner For India. Still No Goals in the match.

26/01/2023 19:33:23

Penalty Corner For India

India earn a Penalty Corner on the rebound but fail to score. 

26/01/2023 19:32:30

Another Penalty Corner For Japan

Another Penalty Corner For Japan but India save both chances. No goals yet.

26/01/2023 19:31:30

Penalty Corner for Japan

Penalty Corner for Japan early in Second quarter.

26/01/2023 19:30:42

India Dominate Possession But Fail to Score

India Dominated Possession in that first quarter but failed to score. Not the best of starts given their reputation but that is how the tournament has been for them. They had their chances but couldn't score.

26/01/2023 19:29:30

Abhishek Fails To Score In Dying Seconds Of First Quarter

Abhishek with a powerful stroke in the dying seconds of the first quarter. But it's blocked. Abhishek had gone for it on the rebound. India 0-0 Japan at the end of quarter 1.

26/01/2023 19:26:36

Rajkumar Misses

Rajkumar almost got India's first goal with a reverse stick but its off target. 0-0.

26/01/2023 19:25:09

Another Penalty Corner

Still no goal. Ball had hit Japan's defender which was why India were given another penalty corner but on both occasions India fail to score.

26/01/2023 19:23:49

First Penalty Corner For India

First Penalty Corner For India With Less than 4 minutes to go in the first quarter.

26/01/2023 19:23:19

Japan Retain their Referral

Japan keep their review in the first quarter. Wanted to check if there was an attacker's foot on that ball and replays confirmed there was indeed a foot but outside the circle so a free hit and Japan keep their review. India lose their penalty corner.

26/01/2023 19:20:17

Pathak Saves

First real chance for Japan. Kentaro Fukuda trying to score but was the only player from Japan inside the Indian circle, easy save for Pathak.

26/01/2023 19:18:48

Varun Kumar To India's Rescue

Varun Kumar pretty alert there as he prevents the opposition from breaching the Indian circle. Japan holding on pretty well so far.

26/01/2023 19:17:01

Surender Kumar Loses Ball Possession

Action-packed start to the first quarter. Harmanpreet passes the ball to Surender Kumar for India but India lose possesion in the initial minutes of the match.

26/01/2023 19:12:27

Off we go

The first quarter is underway. Japan in red, India in their traditional blue.

26/01/2023 19:07:18

Time For The National Anthems

The Teams are out on the park. Time for the National Anthems. Japan's anthem followed by India's.

26/01/2023 19:06:27

Starting XIs Are Out

India: Surender Kumar, Manpreet Singh, Mandeep Singh, Krishan Bahadur Pathak, Harmanpreet Singh, Shamsher Singh, Varun Kumar, Raj Kumar Pal, Amit Rohidas, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Sukhjeet Singh
Japan: Koji Yamasaki, Shota Yamada, Seren Tanaka, Taiki Takade, Takuma Niwa, Raiki Fujishima, Ken Nagayoshi, Ryoma Ooka, Masaki Ohashi, Kaito Tanaka, Takashi Yoshikawa

26/01/2023 18:54:39

Japan's Journey at Hockey WC 2023

-Lost To Germany 0-3 In Pool B encounter
-Lost To Korea 1-2 In Pool B encounter
-Lost To Belgium 1-7 In Pool B fixture

26/01/2023 18:38:24

India's Journey at Hockey WC 2023

-Beat Spain 2-0 In Pool D encounter
-Draw 0-0 Against England in Pool D match
-Win 4-2 Over Wales In Final Pool D fixture To Finish Second in The pool
-Lose 3 (4)- 3(5) to New Zealand In the Crossover Match 

26/01/2023 18:30:41

30 minutes to go

Just about 30 minutes to go for the start of this classification fixture in Rourkela.

26/01/2023 18:29:49

Hello

Hello and Welcome to our live coverage of the classification match between India and Japan. While it would have been an honour to cover the business end of the competition had India qualified, a defeat to a lower-ranked New Zealand in the cross-over match shattered all hopes of a medal. However, this too is a big game for the Men in Blue. It's a bit nervy for us here and pretty sure the players would be feeling the heat too. A slip up here would be an even more embarrassing for the hosts on the country's Republic Day. Hoping for a result that fills India's heart with joy this evening.