India win Castrol hockey festival

Our Correspondent

India maintained their unbeaten record in the Castrol international hockey festival when they beat Japan 4-3 in the concluding match of the four-nation tournament at the Milton Keynes National Stadium on Tuesday.

India dominated the match from the start but perferred to go on the offensive only when needed. The need arose when they fell in arrears much against the run of play after their defence was caught napping in the seventh minute. Naoya Iwadate broke through and found the mark to put Japan ahead.

That goal forced Indian coach Cedric D'Souza to order his team to step on the accelerator. And immediately the young Daljit Singh Dhillon restored parity for the Indians with the first of his two goals.

The teams went into the breather at 1-1, but high action was in store midway through the second half as five goals were scored in a spell of in 15 minutes.

Makoto Karuo put Japan back into the lead in the 46th minute before India scored twice within four minutes through Prabjot Singh and Daljit.

Japan pulled one back through Takaya Fukuoka from a penalty-corner a minute later (59th) to make it 3-3 before Gagan Ajit Singh sealed victory for the Indians in the 60th minute, latching on a pass from Prabjot SIngh.

Scotland and France were the other teams that participated in the tournament.