The Indian men’s hockey team blanked Japan 5-0 within the Asian Champions Trophy 2023 semi-finals on the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium in Chennai on Friday.

Three-time champions India will now tackle Malaysia within the Asian Champions Trophy ultimate on Saturday. Malaysia progressed to their maiden ultimate after ending the Republic of Korea’s title defence with a 6-2 win earlier within the day.

Akashdeep Singh (19’), Harmanpreet Singh (23), Mandeep Singh (30’), Sumit (39’) and Karthi Selvam (51’) scored the objectives for India. PR Sreejesh was felicitated by Hockey India (HI) on the event of his three hundredth worldwide match earlier than the beginning of the semi-final.

India, who misplaced to Japan 5-3 within the semis two years in the past in Dhaka, got here out all weapons blazing and obtained their first penalty nook within the second minute. Harmanpreet Singh’s drag-flick, nevertheless, was well-saved by the Japanese goalkeeper Takashi Yoshikawa.

Japan sprung a counter-attack and caught India, fourth within the hockey rankings, abruptly however the ultimate shot went large of the objective.

India, enjoying a half court docket press, used aerial passes and switched flanks to hassle the opposition. Japan defended deep to maintain the scores 0-0 within the first quarter.

After a quiet first quarter-hour, each Japan and India elevated their depth in the hunt for a bonus early within the second quarter.

Japan’s frequent circle penetrations early within the second quarter posed a risk to India however the hosts performed just like the top-ranked aspect within the event and pumped three previous the world No. 19 Japan, the reigning Asian Games champions.

A collective workforce build-up began by former Indian hockey workforce captain Manpreet Singh and Harmanpreet Singh was neatly transformed right into a objective within the nineteenth minute by Akashdeep Singh.

Harmanpreet Singh, the top-scorer on the 2023 Asian Champions Trophy, netted his eighth objective of the event by a searing low drag-flick 4 minutes later.

Stunned by a double blow, Japan couldn’t address India’s depth and conceded a area objective within the ultimate minute of the primary half.

A blistering solo run from Manpreet Singh lower by Japan’s midfield and was adopted by a exact strike at objective, which obtained the faint contact from Mandeep Singh for India’s third.

While there was not a lot to separate the 2 sides when it comes to possession, the Indian hockey workforce had 13 circle penetrations in comparison with Japan’s 5 within the first half. India additionally received two penalty corners.

The circle penetrations, nevertheless, dried up for Japan within the subsequent half-hour. India, in the meantime, added two to their objectives tally.

Manpreet Singh was as soon as once more on the forefront of India’s assault for the fourth objective. He beat the Japanese defence to offer an help to Sumit, who scooped the ball into the web to make it 4-0 within the thirty ninth minute.

Karthi Selvam made it 5 for India within the 51st minute after Sukhjeet Singh’s selfless go from contained in the circle was transformed neatly.

India will play Malaysia within the Asian Champions Trophy 2023 ultimate on Saturday. Japan, in the meantime, will play Korea for the bronze.

Pakistan beat China 6-1 earlier within the day to complete fifth within the event.