Harmanpreet Singh-led India beat Japan 5-1 in the Hangzhou Asian Games 2023 Hockey final to book their berth in the Paris Olympics 2024. The final turned out to be a one-sided encounter as defending champion Japan conceded one goal after another. This was India's 22nd gold medal at the Asian Games 2023.
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No goals were scored in the first quarter despite India earning a penalty corner in the 15th minute. Two minutes into the second quarter, Amit Rohidas had a chance to break the deadlock via penalty corner but he went wide.ย
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In the 25th minute, Manpreet's reverse hit found the back of the net while Gurjant got a green card. In the 32nd minute, India earned another penalty corner. Harmanpreet's powerful drag flick went past the Japanese goalkeeper as India doubled their lead. Four minutes later, Rohidas converted the penalty corner into a goal as India extended their lead. Japanese tried to attack on the counter-attack at the end of the third quarter but could not score.ย
In the 48th minute, Abhishek got a delivery from Hardik Singh and he flicked it past the goalkeeper as India scored their fourth goal. Three minutes later, Japan managed to earn a penalty corner. Goalkeeper PR Sreejesh saved the ball twice but Tanaka Seren managed to score the consolation goal amid chaos.
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In the 53rd minute, Mandeep got injured but it did not affect the game's outcome. In the 59th minute, India earned yet another penalty corner. Harmanpreet scored another goal with a flick as Takumi Kitagawa could not get to the ball aimed at the right corner.ย
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The Indian team, who secured a bronze in the previous Jakarta edition, clinched their fourth Asian Games gold, marking their first since the 2014 Incheon Games. The other two instances when India won the gold were in 1966 and 1998, both in Bangkok. Meanwhile, South Korea bagged the bronze by narrowly defeating host nation China with a score of 2-1.
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