Rohan Chowdhury in Hangzhou
One final, and two prizes were up for grabs for the Indian men’s hockey team – a gold medal and a ticket to the Paris Olympics in 2024. The team had been in dominant form since the beginning of the Asian Games with a total of 53 goals scored, and only 8 conceded.
India could have faced the home side in the final, but Japan defeated China 3-2 in the semi-finals to reach the gold medal match at Gongshu Sports Canal Stadium.
The first ten minutes of the summit clash were evenly contested with not much threat to either goalkeeper. India’s main attack was coming from the right flank, with Abhishek and Vivek Prasad Sagar switching their positions on the wing. With less than two minutes to go, Nagai Yuma, Japan’s No. 12, fouled Harmanpreet Singh, the Indian skipper, and was awarded a green card, which meant a man advantage for India. With a couple of defence-penetrating attacks, India managed their first penalty corner of the game with 58 seconds to go. A brilliant save from the Japanese goalkeeper kept the game 0-0 at the end of the first quarter.
India had the edge from the start of the second quarter and Japan’s defence was fighting hard to keep the scores level. Japan’s attack was mainly focused on long passes which were of not much threat. With five minutes to go for the end of the first half, Manpreet Singh, India’s No. 7, broke the deadlock with a brilliant left-handed strike from the edge of the circle. Japan’s appeal for dangerous play was overruled and India went into the break 1-0 up.
At the start of the second half, India maintained the attacking momentum and earned an early penalty corner. After a quick succession of penalty corners, Harmanpreet scored his first of the night and India’s second. The third goal came in a similar fashion, again a penalty corner for India and this time Amit Rohidas applied the finishing touch. The ball deflected off the goalkeeper’s handpad and went to the back of the net. India were 3-0 up with nine minutes to go in the third quarter.
“Jeetega Bhai Jeetega, India Jeetega” and “Bharat Mata ki Jai” chants were heard throughout the game from the small group of Indian fans and they became louder as the players took their positions for the last quarter. A few minutes into the quarter Japan’s defence was already under attack, and Abhishek got the ball through before making no mistake from an acute angle. Japan pulled one back through Seren Tanaka, but India’s defence held firm to ensure that there were no more alarms.
It was Harmanpreet who gave the game a final emphatic full stop with a minute to go, smashing in another penalty corner. With this victory, the Indian hockey team bagged their fourth hockey gold at the Asian Games, and a first since Incheon 2014. More importantly, they’ll be in Paris next summer, looking to improve on the historic bronze won in Tokyo two years ago.