India Thrash Japan 10-2 In Asian Champions Trophy Opening Match

KUANTAN (Pahang, Malaysia), Oct 21 (Bernama) -- India's skipper Rupinder Pal Singh emerged the hero as he laid in six goals to help India beat Japan 10-2 in their opening Asian Champions Trophy match at Kuantan Hockey Stadium, here Thursday night. Rupinder Pal scored all his goals through penalty corners taken in minutes 9, 12, 17, 22, 46 and 47. Earlier, India opened the scoring in the second minute through a field goal by Ramandeep Singh. Ramandeep scored a second with a solo effort through a field goal in the 15th minute. Japan, who were stunned, tried to close the gap with their first goal in the 23rd minute through a field goal by Kenta Tanaka, before Hiromasa Ochiai added a second through a field goal in the 38th minute. The remaining two goals for India were scored in the 19th and 50th minutes by Talwinder Singh and Yousuf Affan respectively. -- BERNAMA