PR Sreejesh wins on debut as India defeats Japan in Sultan of Johor Cup

Indian junior men's hockey teams started impressively in the Sultan of Johor Cup 2024 as PR Sreejesh recorded a win on his debut as coach.

India defeated Japan 4-2 to start the tournament with a big win.

Amir Ali (12'), Gurjot Singh (36'), Anand Sourabh Kushwaha (44'), and Ankit Pal (47') scored for India win while Tsubasa Tanaka (26') and Rakusei Yamanaka (57') scored for Japan.

It was a high-octane match right from the start with India Colts playing attacking hockey, looking for scoring opportunities early in the game.

India's relentless attack resulted in a goal in the 12th minute when skipper Amir Ali scored a brilliant field to make it 1-0 for India.

Japan bounced back from this early setback when Tsubasa Tanaka scored in the 26th minute to equalise. The first half ended 1-1 with India being guilty of wasting some golden chances through open gameplay and penalty corners.

Japan came strong after the half-time break but Gurjot Singh gave India the lead in the 36th minute with a fine field goal where he lifted the ball over the Japanese goalkeeper from the acute angle to make it 2-1.

Minutes later, India made it 3-1 as Sourabh Kushwaha scored past Japan's goalkeeper Kisho Kuroda from a penalty corner rebound.

India's goal-fest continued into the final quarter with Ankit Pal scoring the team's fourth goal in the 47th minute. He picked up a rebound from a PC to put the ball past Japan's keeper.

India will face Great Britain tomorrow in the second game of the tournament.

Though Japan converted a goal in the 57th minute through Rakusei Yamanaka, India stayed ahead 4-2.

There were some nervy moments as the match inched towards the final hooter with Indian attackers upping the ante, hunting for a fifth goal. But Japan's goalie Koki Origasa did well to keep the goal at bay as India ended the play with a fine 4-2 win.