Asia Cup 2022: Defending champions India clinch bronze with 1-0 win over Japan in low-scoring encounter

Defending champions India have clinched the bronze medal with a thrilling 1-0 win over Japan in the low-scoring encounter of the Asia Cup 2022 on Wednesday. India's Rajkumar Pal scored the only goal of the match and his early strike was enough to help India battle past Japan in the third-place match of the tournament.
iNDIAN HOCKEY TEAM IANS VS JAPAN

Rajkumar Pal scored the only goal of the match as his early strikes was enough to help India battle past Japan in the third-place match of the tournament.

Photo : IANS
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Defending champions India upstaged Japan in the Asia Cup 2022 on Wednesday.
  • Team India battled past Japan 1-0 in their final match of the Asia Cup.
  • Earlier, India played out a 4-4 draw with South Korea.
After suffering heartbreak in their title-defending campaign of the Asia Cup 2022 at the hands of South Korea, the young Indian hockey team bounced back by clinching the bronze medal. The defending champions defeated Japan to win the bronze medal in the third-place encounter of the Asia Cup 2022 on Wednesday (June 1). Team India edged past Japan 1-0 to secure a morale-boosting win in the prestigious tournament.
An early goal from Rajkumar Pal guided the defending champions to a thrilling win over Japan in the low-scoring contest at Jakarta's GBK Sports Complex Hockey Stadium. Japan had four shots on goal while India made six attempts to extend their lead in the 3rd quarter. India were down to 10 players after Pawan Rajbhar received a green card. However, the Indian defense managed to keep things airtight for the opposition as the Asian giants earned a well-fought win in their final match of the tournament.
Earlier, the young Indian hockey team had failed to enter the summit clash after a 4-4 draw with South Korea in the Asia Cup. Though India, Malaysia and Korea finished on five points each in the Super 4 phase of the elite tournament, the defending champions led by Birendra Lakra failed to enter the final due to an inferior goal difference.
Indian star players Nilam Sanjeep Xess (9th minute), Dipsan Tirkey (21st), Mahesh Sheshe Gowda (22nd) and Shakthivel Mareeswaran (37th) had scored for the defending champions in the high-scoring contest against South Korea. For the South Korean side, Jang Jonghyun (13th), Ji Woo Cheon (18th), Kim JungHoo (28th) and Jung Manjae (44th) were able to find the back of the net. While India and Japan squared off against each other in the third-place match, South Korea locked horns with Malaysia in the Asia Cup 2022 final on Wednesday.
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