India beat Japan 8-0; to play SA next
Hindustan TimesEven though it was a little too late, the goals came in plenty. Indian players celebrate a goal against Japan during the FIH Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023 India hammered the world No 18 Japan 8-0 in the 9-16 classification playoff at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela and will now play their final game of the World Cup, a 9-12 position contest against South Africa at the same venue on Saturday. While Player of the Match Abhishek and skipper Harmanpreet Singh scored a brace each, Mandeep Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, former captain Manpreet Singh and Sukhjeet Singh scored a goal each. India scored a quick second goal as a poor turnover in their own half by Japan gave Manpreet the ball and he found Abhishek in the circle who had all the time and space needed to calmly score on the reverse. Abhishek scored his second and India’s fourth goal, bringing up the 200th goal of this World Cup.