Azlan Shah Hockey: Mandeep treble takes India past Japan

Ipoh (Malaysia): Striker Mandeep Singh scored a brilliant hat-trick to hand India a fighting 4-3 victory over lower-ranked Japan in a round robin match of the 26th Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament, here on Wednesday.

Having squandered the early lead provided by a penalty corner conversion from Rupinderpal Singh, India were trailing when Mandeep got into his goal-scoring act in the second half.

It needed two goals from the striker in the last 10 minutes to help India avoid a stunning loss.

Neutralising India’s early lead through Kazuma Murata’s fine deflection in the 10th minute, Japan led twice in the game with goals coming from Heita Yoshihara (43rd) and Genki Mitani (45th), but they could not overcome Mandeep’s brilliance.

Mandeep scored first with a fine touch on a through ball from Harmanpreet Singh in the 45th minute.

He then came back to tap in a square ball from Sardar Singh in the 51st minute and then ensured three points for India by capitalising on a diagonal ball from Rupinderpal in the 58th minute.

Mandeep’s goals kept India’s challenge alive in the six-nation tournament, taking them to seven points from four matches.

In another match, Matt Dawson’s 52nd-minute penalty corner conversion ensured defending champions Australia a 2-1 victory over Great Britain.

Injured Sreejesh ruled out
India captain and goalkeeper Sreejesh P.R. has been ruled out of the tournament with a right knee ligament injury suffered in the match against Australia. “He needs further investigation when we get back to India. There will be no replacement goalkeeper in Sreejesh’s place,” Oltmans said.