India’s challenge: Live up to ‘No. 1 in Asia’ tag –Hosts face Japan in crucial clash today

Rajgir: The Indian men’s hockey team might be the seventh-ranked team in the world and No.1 in Asia, but they were given quite a scare by the Chinese side in their Asia Cup opener at Rajgir Sports Complex here on Friday.So much was the domination by the Chinese players that the Indian side failed to hold their own on numerous occasions. They made errors, failed to keep their structures and their defenders gave away the balls easily because of which China, in the end, won as many six penalty corners and converted three of them.

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It was quite uncanny to see India concede three PCs considering the hosts have always done well in defending them.

And that is one of the major areas that the team will have to improve upon as they face off against Japan in their second group game of the tournament here on Sunday.Speaking after the match on Friday, Craig Fulton clearly pointed it out. Even Amit Rohidas, one of the best rushers in the world, was disappointed with the team’s efforts and said, “We failed to take our chances. Also, we will have to be ready at the back because the one or two balls that they got, we made mistakes there and we will have to rectify them in the upcoming match.”

However, it’s easier said than done because, as Fulton said, being the best team in the competition, all the other teams will play out of their skin against the hosts.“We are going to be their biggest game. So that’s how it’s always going to be. We are supposedly the highest-ranked team and we’re the favourites. So, every team is going to lift themselves to play us. We have to manage that challenge,” the coach added.India, meanwhile, will take heart from the fact that Harmanpreet Singh looked in great touch and scored a hat-trick in the first match.

He is making a comeback of sorts after struggling with injuries during the Pro League games in India as well as in Europe. He did miss a few PCs and failed to convert a penalty stroke against China, but he showed his class when he sent in the winner into the top-right corner of the net.Hardik Singh was also as good as ever and the way he connected with Mandeep Singh upfront on a couple of occasions was a delight to the eyes. But the goalkeepers will have to pick up their game if India are to maintain the scoreboard pressure on their opponents.Besides their opponents, India’s other challenge will be the extreme heat that has been making life difficult for most of the players. It was no different on Saturday as the players continued to struggle. But it did rain a little during the match between Malaysia and South Korea and there are chances of scattered showers on Sunday, too.Meanwhile, Japan are coming into the game after a 7-0 win against Kazakhstan but in the last five games against India, they have lost four times. Only once during the 2023 Asian Champions Trophy in Chennai, they earned a 1-1 draw and will be more than happy if they can achieve the same result on Sunday.