Akashdeep Singh struck twice as India completed a dominating 4-0 win over Japan in the last match to clinch the hockey Test series 3-0, here on Saturday. Apart from Akashdeep, V Raghunath and Dharamvir Singh scored for India even as no goal was scored in the first quarter of the game.
With seconds left into the first quarter, Yuvraj Walmiki slapped the ball into the D to SV Sunil but unfortunately for India, Sunil could not connect and lost the opportunity, resulting in the quarter being a dry run. Halfway into the second quarter, India had their first chance from a penalty corner but Rupinder Pal Singh hit off-target resulting in a miss on a crucial opportunity.
In the 26th minute, India had their second chance on the penalty corner but this time Raghunath took the flick and he committed no mistake in finding the net, giving India a 1-0 lead. In the next minute, India broke the shackles of the defence again and Akashdeep Singh scored a brilliant field goal to make the scoreline 2-0.
The third quarter started again in India’s favour as they maintain the attack and the pressure on Japan. In the 36th minute India added a third goal when SV Sunil passed the ball to Dharamvir Singh who entered the D with the ball and slapped it past the goalkeeper giving no chance to the opponents to react.
In the last quarter, Japan had their first chance from the penalty corner and a chance to score their first goal but the ball was hit wide of the goal.
After that India upped the ante and completely dominated the match thereon. In the 53rd minute, Akashdeep tore past Japan’s defence and beat the goalkeeper to score a brilliant field goal.