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Defending champions India put up a below-par performance to lose 5-3 against Japan and bow out of a gold medal contention in the ongoing Asian Champions Trophy 2021 in Dhaka. Japan, who lost 6-0 against India in the group stage, were right on the money from the start getting a two-goal lead within the first five minutes. Such was the domination from the Japanese that they earned as many as six penalty corners in the first quarter itself. Dilpreet Singh reduced India's margin in the second quarter but a penalty stroke before half-time helped Japan restore the two-goal lead. Japan added two more in the third quarter to lead 5-1. India pulled two goals back in the final 15 minutes but that was too late. India will now face Pakistan for the bronze medal while Japan face Korea in the final. Both the matches are on Wednesday. Get here highlights of IND vs JPN here.
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19:28 PM IST: Player speak
Manpreet Singh (IND): This was not the result we wanted, We were lazy initially and they capitalised on that to score two goals inside the first five minutes. This is a big lesson for us that no team should be taken lightly.
19:23 PM IST: Man of Match - Seren Tanaka (Japan)
We believed that we could beat India. We did that. We face Korea in the final and we hope to go home with the trophy.
19:17 PM IST: Japan beat India
India reduce the margin through Hardik Singh. But that wasn't enough as India are stunned by 2018 Asian Games champions Japan. Japan win 5-3, to face Korea in the final.
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19:13 PM IST: 4th Quarter, India 2-5 Japan
Two back-to-back penalty corners for India and they squander both. Less than two minutes away from the final hooter.
19:10 PM IST: 4th Quarter, India 2-5 Japan
India nearly got their 3rd goal but Shilanand Lakra's shot goes wide. Less than three minutes left.
19:06 PM IST: 4th Quarter, India 2-5 Japan
Second penalty corner for India and Harmanpreet Singh reduces the margin with a brilliant drag flick. Can India come back?
19:03 PM IST: 4th Quarter, India 1-5 Japan
Japan have earned more than six penalty corners against India's only one, This shows how Japan have dominated in the match.
19:01 PM IST: 4th Quarter, India 1-5 Japan
Baring a brief period in the second quarter, the Indians have been largely dominated the Japanese. With just 10 minutes remaining in the match, India certainly need some miracles to score four goals to force a shootout.
Things look bad here in Dhaka for defending champions India. As things stand, Korea are likely to face Japan in the final.
18:51 PM IST: 3rd Quarter, India 1-5 Japan
Japan are 5-1. Takuma Niwa on counter-attack enters the Indian D, passes to Kenta Tanaka on the left who then crosses in for Ryoma Ooka to score. Indians looks clueless today.
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18:45 PM IST: 3rd Quarter, India 1-4 Japan
India concede another. Kose Kawabe scores for Japan. More misery for the defending champions
18:40 PM IST: 3rd Quarter, India 1-3 Japan
Shamsher Singh creates a couple of chances for India, one from the midfield and another from the right flank but lacked support from his teammates.
18:24 PM IST: 2nd Quarter, India 1-3 Japan
Krishan Pathak brings down an onrushing Kenta Tanaka and Japan earn a penalty stroke. Yoshiki Kirishita gets his first of the match and Japan restore a 2-goal lead over India.
18:10 PM IST: 2nd Quarter, India 1-2 Japan
India are slowly taking the game on their hands. They are having better ball possession now. Krishan Pathak Bahadur dives brilliantly to deny Japan.
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18:10 PM IST: 2nd Quarter, India 1-2 Japan
India earn their first penalty corner in the match. Golden opportunity for India. Lalit Upadhyay with the injection and Nilam Sanjeep Xess hits straight to the Japanese goalie.
18:08 PM IST: 2nd Quarter, India 1-2 Japan
Manpreet Singh passes for Hardik Singh from the left, Hardik shoots, ball bounces off the Japan goalie and Dilpreet strikes at the right time on rebound. Dilpreet scores for India.
18:02 PM IST: 1st Quarter, India 0-2 Japan
Manpreet Singh sends a brilliant ball from the midfield to Dilpreet but a priceless interception from the Japanese defender denies India.
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17:59 PM IST: 1st Quarter, India 0-2 Japan
Hardik Singh passes to Dilpreet Singh in the D but is brilliantly intercepted by the Japanese defender. India yet to find an opening.
17:54 PM IST: 1st Quarter, India 0-2 Japan
India are certainly on the backfoot in this match. Coming in as favourites, India have conceded as many as six penalty corners to Japan. Japan look a completely different side in this match.
17:45 PM IST: 1st Quarter, India 0-2 Japan
Three consecutive penalty corners for Japan. And they double the lead. Raiki Fujishima scores the second. India are two goals down in no time.
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17:41 PM IST: 1st Quarter, India 0-1 Japan
Two penalty corners for Japan and then a penalty stroke. Shota Yamada beats Suraj Karkera on the bottom right corner via penalty stroke.
17:36 PM IST: National Anthems
India's first, followed by the Japanese
India finished on top of the standing after garnering 10 points from four matches. India had three wins, including one against arch-rivals Pakistan. Japan managed to make the semifinals by ending fourth in the five-nation championship. Japan finished with five points with a win, two loses and a draw.
On form, India look good to make Wednesday's final but they must guard against complacency. After a 2-2 draw against Korea in their first match of the tournament, joint defending champions India scored convincing wins against Bangladesh (9-0), Pakistan (3-1) and then Japan.
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Until the semifinals, India's star dragflicker Harmanpreet Singh was the highest goal scorer with six. Dilpreet Singh (4) and Jarmanpreet Singh (3) have also been prolific in the Asian Champions Trophy hockey 2021.
Japan, as hosts, had qualified for Tokyo Olympics but finished last in the group that also had India. In five matches, JPN lost four and drew one. In Tokyo 2020, India beat Japan 5-3 in their last group game to progress to the knockouts.
