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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Allahabad HC orders probe into 'reinstatement' of teacher in UP's Barabanki
Lucknow (PTI): The Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court on Friday ordered a probe by the special task force (STF) into alleged irregularities in the rejoining of a teacher at City Intermediate College in Barabanki, observing that the reinstatement appeared to be prima facie illegal.
The court also directed the recovery of the salary paid to the teacher during the disputed period.
A bench of Justice Rajeev Singh passed the order on a petition filed by the college management committee. The court expressed doubts over the roles of the District Inspector of Schools (DIOS), Barabanki, the college principal and the teacher concerned and hence, directed a detailed inquiry into the matter.
Taking note of alleged manipulation of records and misleading submissions, the court ordered the immediate transfer of the Barabanki DIOS to ensure a fair probe. It also directed the initiation of disciplinary proceedings against the then joint director of education of the Ayodhya division.
In its order, the court found that the teacher, Abhay Kumar, was initially appointed as an assistant teacher in 2018 but joined an Eklavya Model Residential School in Chhattisgarh as a lecturer in June 2024 without obtaining permission from the management. His subsequent request to retain the lien was rejected.
Despite this, he was allowed to rejoin the Barabanki College in September 2025 on the directions of the joint director of education and the DIOS, and was even paid the salary for October 2025. The court termed the rejoining "wholly illegal" and lacking any legal basis.
The bench also expressed concern over lapses in communication within the education department and directed the Uttar Pradesh chief secretary to ensure that official orders are communicated through email and WhatsApp as well, to prevent disputes.
The matter is next listed for hearing on May 28 when a compliance report is sought.
