Asia Cup hockey: Holders India lose 5-2 to Japan, stare at exit

Jakarta: A new-look Indian team paid for its inexperience and profligacy with Asian champions Japan thrashing them 5-2 in a group A league match of the men’s Asia Cup hockey championship here on Tuesday.

Having drawn against Pakistan in the opening game, India’s chances after this defeat will be badly dented as even a big win against Indonesia in the last game might not be enough for qualification to the knockout stages. Pakistan beat Indonesia 13-0 earlier in the day and Japan have already qualified for the semis.

Ken Nagayoshi, Kosei Kawabe (twice), Ryomi Ooka, and Koji Yamasaki scored for Japan while Pawan Rajbhar and Uttam Singh found the target for the Indians.

However, the younger crop of players didn’t measure up against the Japanese, who looked more organized and hit India repeatedly on the counters.