Men's Hockey: Abhishek scores brace to guide India to 4-2 win against Japan
Hangzhou (PTI): Young striker Abhishek fired two goals as India beat defending champions Japan 4-2 to register their third consecutive victory and take a giant step towards semi-final of the men's hockey competition at the Asian Games here on Thursday.
Abhishek (13th, 48th minutes) scored two field goals, while Mandeep Singh (24th) and Amit Rohidas (34th) were the other scorers for India.
Japan fought back in the final five minutes of the fourth and final quarter and scored two quick goals through Genki Mitani (57th) and Ryosei Kato (60) to reduce the margin of defeat.
India will play arch-rivals Pakistan in their next Pool A match on Saturday.
World no.3 Indian team dominated the proceedings for major part of the match and controlled the ball possession, while Japan showed sparks in patches.
After two easy wins, the confident Indians started brightly and secured their first penalty corner in the fifth minute but skipper Harmanpreet Singh's flick went wide.
India conceded their first penalty corner of the tournament in the 12th minute but the Japanese failed to utilise the chance as goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak saved Shota Yamada's try.
India secured another penalty corner soon but again the result was the same.
But an opportunistic Abhishek gave India the lead a minute later, scoring with a reverse stick after receiving an assist from Hardik Singh.
India earned another penalty corner but the Japanese defended bravely.
Seconds from the first quarter, Lalit Upadhyay's timely deflection from Jarmanpreet Singh's cross was saved by Japanese goalkeeper Takshi Yoshikawa.
India doubled their lead in the 24th minute through Mandeep, who dived full length to deflect in Nilkanta's pass.
After the change of ends, India secured their fourth penalty corner but Sanjay's flick was saved by Yoshikawa.
India secured back-to-back penalty corners soon, the second of which was converted by Rohidas with with a powerful drag-flick to the top right corner of Japan goal.
India looked threatening and continued to press hard on the Japanese defence in search of more goals as the third quarter ended.
Three minutes into the final quarter, India made the scoreline 4-0 when Abhishek combined well with Mandeep to score his second goal of the day.
But the Japanese didn't bow down without a fight and came back strongly, scoring two quick goals in the last five minutes of the game.
The Japanese secured three penalty corners in a span of three minutes and managed to find the net from the third one through a fine variation goal from Mitani.
Japan pulled another back just at the stroke of the final hooter from a counter attack through Kato.
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People are voting fearlessly in West Bengal this time: PM Modi
Hardoi (UP) (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said voters
are casting their vote in West Bengal this time in a "fearless atmosphere", which was unimaginable in the past six or seven decades.
He also asserted that the assembly poll results on May 4 will further strengthen the resolve of a developed India.
Voting is underway in 142 constituencies of West Bengal in the second and final phase of polling.
Addressing a gathering after the inauguration of the Ganga Expressway here, Modi said today marks an important day in the festival of democracy.
"Voting for the second phase is underway in Bengal, and reports indicate a massive turnout, with people stepping out in large numbers just like in the first phase. Images of long queues at polling stations are flooding social media, reflecting the enthusiasm of the people to exercise their democratic right," he said.
"What we are witnessing in Bengal today is unprecedented which was difficult to imagine in the past six to seven decades, a fearless environment where people are voting without fear," he said.
The prime minister said this is a powerful symbol of the country's Constitution and the strengthening of democracy.
"I express my gratitude to the great people of Bengal for being so aware of their rights and participating in large numbers," he said.
With several hours of voting still left, the prime minister urged the people of Bengal to continue participating in this democratic festival with the same enthusiasm.
Modi said in the recent Bihar Assembly elections, the BJP and NDA achieved a historic and decisive victory.
"Just yesterday, results of local body elections in Gujarat showed that the BJP secured victories in nearly 80 to 85 percent of municipalities and panchayats.
"The results on May 4 will further strengthen the resolve of a developed India and will infuse new energy into the pace of development of the country."
The first phase of polling for 152 seats -- out of the 294-member West Bengal assembly -- was held on April 23.
The counting of votes for assembly polls in Kerala, West Bengal, Puducherry, Assam and Tamil Nadu will take place on May 4.
