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India rout Japan

India began its campaign in the Asia Cup Hockey tournament on a rousing note, beating Japan 3-1 at the Bukit Jalil stadium in Kuala Lumpur today.

Dileep Tirkey (9th minute), Gagan Ajit Singh (20th minute) and Dinesh Nayak were the scorers for India. Akira pulled one back for the Japanese.

India had beaten Japan by a smiliar margin in the semi-finals of the Asian Games where it won the title. Japan finished fourth.

The Indians came out with all guns blazing. Mercurial striker Dhanraj Pillay, playing in the national team after almost ten months, was in fine touch and the biggest threat to the Japanese defence. He should have scored in the second minute itself, but narrowly missed.

However, India did not have to wait too long to open the scoring. Constant attacks by Pillay and Deepak Thakur forced a penalty-corner from which Dileep Tirkey made no mistake.

Gagan Ajit Singh increased the score in the 20th minute. Baljit Saini's cross, following a good run down the right flank, was well intercepted and tapped home by Gagan.

In the second half play was restricted to the midfield as the Japanese used crowing out tactics to thwart the speedy Indian forward line. But from the third penalty-corner late in the half, Dinesh Nayak drove hard and true to put the issue beyond doubt.

As the Indians relaxed, Japan managed to pull one back through Akira from a penalty-corner for a consolation goal.

Though India won rather handsomely, they will have to be more consistent inside the circle when they meet Malaysia next.

The Japanese, who are gearing up for the Olympic qualifier in Osaka next, had yesterday narrowly lost 3-4 to Pakistan in a friendly match.