Indian women beat Japan 2-1, assure semifinal berth in Asian Champions Trophy hockey
Ranchi (PTI): An in-form India eked out a narrow 2-1 win over Japan to register their fourth straight win and storm into the semifinals of the women's Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament here on Tuesday.
After two goalless quarters, Navneet Kaur (31st minute) and Sangita Kumari (47th) scored for India, while Japan's lone goal came from the stick of Kana Urata (37th).
It was a match between two undefeated sides in the tournament and it lived up to the billing.
India had earlier defeated Thailand 7-1 in their opener before getting the better of Malaysia and China 5-0 and 2-1 respectively. The Japanese too were undefeated coming into the match, having registered wins over Malaysia 3-0, South Korea 4-0 and Thailand 4-0 respectively.
It was a battle between Indian attack and Japan's defence in the first quarter as the hosts relentlessly put pressure on the opposition citadel but failed to produce any result.
The Japanese mostly relied on counter attacks to unsettle the Indians but failed to breach their defence.
Both the teams failed to create any clear cut scoring opportunities from field effort in the first quarter.
However, it was Japan who had the brightest of chances in the form of penalty corner in the 13th minute but Ishika Chaudhary was upto the task to keep the ball away from the net as the first quarter ended goalless.
The Japanese put pressure in the opening moments of the second quarter and created a couple of attacks but all those went in vain. The story was the same as it was in the first quarter as both the teams failed to create any real scoring opportunity.
In the last 4 minutes, the Indians came close to scoring at least thrice but were unable to finish the scoring shots.
India soon secured their first penalty corner but vice-captain Deep Grace Ekka's threatening shot to the right of Japanese goalie was well defended.
It was Japan's turn to earn a penalty corner next but the Indian defence was upto the task.
The deadlock was finally broken a minute after the change of ends through Navneet.
A deceptive pass from Salima Tete in the circle area found Navneet, who turned around and fired a powerful backhand shot into the Japanese net.
It took Japan just six minutes to draw level from their third penalty corner.
Urata brought her side back into the match, perfectly converting the set piece with a high flick to the top right corner of the Indian goal.
In the 39th minute, India secured another penalty corner, only to be denied by the Japanese goalkeeper.
It was an electrifying performance from both the sides in the fourth and final quarter, which witnessed end-to-end hockey. But it was India, who were the dominant side on display.
Two minutes into the final quarter, India secured a penalty corner and Deepika's low dragflick was deflected in by Sangita to hand the hosts a 2-1 lead.
India secured another penalty corner in the 53rd minute but the effort was saved by Japanese goalkeeper Akio Tanaka.
From there on, the Japanese pressed hard for the equaliser but the Indians defended bravely to keep their opponents at bay and continue their winning run.
India will take on South Korea in their final league game on Thursday.
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UP Cong holds statewide protest seeking probe into FIR against Swami Avimukteshwaranand
Lucknow (PTI): The Uttar Pradesh Congress on Wednesday staged a statewide protest demanding a fair and transparent inquiry into the FIR lodged against Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and those who filed the complaint against him.
In a statement issued here, the party said memorandums addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi were submitted through district magistrates in all districts of the state.
Uttar Pradesh Congress spokesperson Manish Hindvi told PTI that the memorandums were handed over through the district administration in all 75 districts.
In the memorandum, the party alleged that Saraswati and his disciples were "unnecessarily harassed and humiliated" by police on the occasion of Amavasya and were prevented from taking a ritual bath (at the Magh Mela). It further alleged that some disciples were manhandled and taken to a police station.
The memorandum also claimed that an FIR was later registered against Saraswati, his disciple Swami Mukundanand Brahmachari and several unidentified persons in a sexual harassment case. It termed the case a "conspiracy" aimed at tarnishing the seer's reputation.
Citing Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution, the memorandum stated that these provisions guarantee religious freedom and the right of religious denominations to manage their own affairs.
It described the position of shankaracharya held by Saraswati as "one of the highest spiritual posts in Sanatan tradition" and alleged that the entire episode appeared to have been "orchestrated in a planned manner".
"We request that the background of the persons who got the FIR registered be investigated in a transparent manner by a retired high court judge and strict action be taken against them," the memorandum said.
It also sought a "fair and transparent probe" into the allegations levelled against Saraswati so that the truth could be established.
Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai had told reporters in Varanasi after meeting Saraswati that the party stood firmly with him.
The Congress said it would continue to press for an impartial inquiry into the entire episode.
On February 21, an FIR was lodged in Prayagraj against Saraswati and his disciple Mukundanand Brahmachari on charges of sexually abusing two persons, including a minor, over the past year at a gurukul and religious congregations, including the recently concluded Magh Mela.
Days after he was booked, Saraswati had said on Monday that he would not oppose his arrest and asserted that the "fabricated story" would be exposed sooner or later.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Saraswati alleged that criminals rule in Uttar Pradesh, level allegations and influence investigations, as he denied having any contact with the two persons for whose alleged sexual abuse he has been booked.
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