India beat Japan 2-0 to reach men's hockey semi-finals at Asian Games 2026
India defeated hosts Japan 2-0 at Kawasaki Juko Hockey Stadium in Kakamigahara on Saturday to secure a place in the men's hockey semi-finals at the Asian Games 2026, completing their fourth straight Pool A win; Abhishek scored in the 15th minute and captain Harmanpreet Singh added a penalty-corner flick in the 40th. The win kept the defending champions on course in the tournament.
Play took place in persistent rain across the Gifu region, with a steady drizzle throughout and umbrellas open in the stands; the match was therefore staged under wet conditions at Kawasaki Juko. Japan forced India into a physical contest and Indian defender Sanjay marked his 100th senior international appearance in the fixture.
The game opened at a high tempo with early Indian chances. In the third minute an aerial to Abhishek was stopped after the ball was ruled dangerous as he faced Japanese goalkeeper Takashi Yoshikawa one-on-one; two minutes later Manpreet Singh earned a penalty corner but Harmanpreet’s initial flick struck an Indian player. A sixth-minute penalty corner followed after a Japanese foot in the circle, with Harmanpreet’s attempt hitting the rusher’s foot and, from the re-award, a Japanese defender on the post producing a fine save.
Japan responded through counterattacks in the seventh minute when Seren Tanaka generated a double chance that Indian goalkeeper Suraj Karkera kept out. India remained active in attack: Manpreet set up Dilpreet Singh in the ninth minute but the effort lacked power; a Japan strike in the 10th minute was ruled out because an Indian foot was involved before the ball crossed the line. Shilanand Lakra’s central run later found Abhishek, but his pass to Sukhjeet Singh was intercepted.
Abhishek gave India the lead in the 15th minute after being afforded time at the top of the circle, the forward pushing the ball past the goalkeeper to make it 1-0 at the end of the first quarter. Japan tested India after the restart, winning a penalty corner in the 17th minute when Ryoma Ooka’s shot was deflected away by an Indian stick. India threatened again in-built phases involving Jarmanpreet Singh, Rajinder Singh and Sukhjeet Singh, but Rajinder’s pass went harmlessly across goal; at the other end Mohith HS produced an excellent save to deny Japan an equaliser and Jugraj Singh’s 21st-minute penalty-corner attempt lacked sting as India went into the break leading 1-0.
The hosts defended deep in the third quarter and relied on quick counters; in the 36th minute Japan earned a penalty corner after a move into the Indian circle, Shota Yamada’s initial attempt went wide and Japan successfully challenged via a video referral for an Indian foot, with Karkera blocking the resulting corner. India extended their advantage in the 40th minute from their sixth penalty corner when Harmanpreet released a high-speed flick into the left corner. A further sequence in the 43rd minute saw Harmanpreet denied by the goalkeeper, a referral for a possible foot awarded India another corner, and an aerial flick from Harmanpreet sail wide.
In the final quarter India had additional chances but could not add to the score; Jugraj’s 46th-minute penalty-corner effort was straight at the goalkeeper and three more penalty corners between the 54th and 55th minutes were missed. Japan carved one last opportunity in the 58th minute when Manabu Yamashita followed up a poor stop at the top of the circle, his shot travelling across the face of goal, and India held on to complete the 2-0 victory.
The result guaranteed India a place in the semi-finals; they will play Bangladesh in their final Pool A match on September 28, having already sealed their spot in the last four with the win over Japan.