TOKYO, AUG 22
The Indian men’s and women’s hockey team won the Olympic Test event here on Wednesday. While the men defeated New Zealand 5-0, the women’s team put it past Japan 2-1 with goals from Navjot Kaur and Lalremsiami. The men’s team thus avenged the loss it endured in it’s round robin clash.
Captain Harmanpreet Singh (7th minute) set the ball rolling before Shamsher Singh (18), Nilakanta Sharma (22), Gursahibjit Singh (26) and Mandeep Singh (27) scored for India at the Oi Hockey Stadium here.India had lost 1-2 to New Zealand earlier in round robin league-stage.
“We played very well. We managed to make the most of our opportunities at the start of the game,” Harmanpreet said after the triumph.
“I think the final was always going to be tough, we lost to New Zealand earlier. But we had been having practice sessions after that and worked on our mistakes,” he added.Both teams began the match on a cautious note staying mostly in the mid-field. India won a penalty corner in the seventh minute, but couldn’t capitalise on it. However, skipper Harmanpreet didn’t miss out on a re-awarded penalty corner. He executed a perfect dragflick to put India in the lead.
The Indian team continued to hold possession and put pressure on the New Zealand defence and ended the first quarter at 1-0.
Shamsher increased the lead for India through a penalty corner in the 18th minute. New Zealand managed to make only two circle entries in the second quarter even as the Indian team scored three more goals. Nilakanta found the back of the net in the 22nd minute before Gursahibjit and Mandeep scored in quick succession.
Vivek Prasad intercepted the ball brilliantly to assist a goal for Gursahibjit and Mandeep converted a penalty corner just before the half-time whistle.
After an action-packed first half, the intensity dropped from both sides. New Zealand tried to make a few inroads in the third quarter as they took a shot in the 37th minute which went wide of the post. Jarmanpreet Singh saved a penalty corner in the next minute.
In the last quarter, India held on to the lead not allowing New Zealand any chance.
Lalremsiami’s winner
Against Japan, Navjot Kaur (11th minute) opened the scoring to but the lead was neutralised within a minute as Minami Shimizu (12) scored for the hosts. Lalremsiami (33) then struck the winning goal for India.
