Japan were intense, India chased the game The pressure was up right from the word go and India were not allowed any breathing space at any point. Yes, they were favourites, but now India have to be content with silver Time slips by, Japan win GOLD They kept pressing, they kept attacking, India were always chasing the game, and they now go down. They have to be content with SILVER Time slipping away India have lost the plot, they are not able to take the ball, they are not able to move forward. India need more people forward The ball keeps moving forward, but there are not enough people to forge any attack. India look rattled The passes are not complete and there is no proper finishing. 10 more minutes to go, Japan on the charge, India have to keep the ball. Third quarter ends Japan in the lead and they deserve it. They have never allowed India to breathe free in the match. India have all the running to do now. GOAL! Key penalty corner for Japan This is dangerous for India, it comes very close to the end of the 3rd quarter. Japan convert it, ball slammed inside the goal, what a variation, what a stunning finish Good save by Savita Lovely run, lovely pass but the Indian goalie anticipated the ball and its direction and was able to kick it away without any fuss Japan move forward It was a sudden attack by Japan, Indian defence caught napping, but they do enough to keep the ball away. India stepping up The team is now finding its groove, lovely synchronised play and Japan is under pressure. Goal is needed. Positive move from India Lovely forward press by Kataria. was a good thrust too, but then the ball is wide and no one is there to receive the pass Japan on the attack It was a long ball, but then it drifts wide. India need to be awake Half-time, it is all even Japan scored early and then India hit back courtesy Neha Goyal. Japan have more pace and India need to keep the ball a bit more. Both sides have defended with a lot of panache. It is building up quite nicely Good defence from India Deepika kept her cool and composure and thwarted any threat just outside the D box. The Indian defence needs to be tight GOAL! India make a comeback Lovely ball, Neha gets it and deflects it in. Lovely pass from Navneet and the ball found Neha who is unmarked. Well, game on, game on! India not keeping the ball long enough The midfield keeps the ball, dribbles and then gives it away, Japan keeps stealing it away and this is why the team is looking shaky at the moment. Ball needs to in Japan’s half more often Japan controlling the game They have the lead and are looking to press on even further. India’s defence is looking very jittery. The flanks are getting exposed whenever Japan enter the penalty area. First quarter ends Japan kept the pressure on the Indian defence and they eventually scored. India need to press on the accelerator a lot more. GOAL! Japan wins PC and they score They kept pressing, India were put under pressure and finally they score Penalty corner for India This is a good chance for India. And lovely move there, India miss, good feed by Rani, but the flick by Gurjit went just wide and cleared by the goalie That was so close for Japan Lovely play, lovely pass, lovely attack, but not so good finish. India under pressure, they have to keep the ball more. Japan shoot and miss Shot goes wide, India then clear the ball Ahh, that was close for India Lovely intercept by Rani, gave a clear ball to the forward, but the goalie makes a good save Rampal on the charge The captain takes off, on the counter, reaches the circle, but then loses the ball. A very sedate start Both teams look to keep the ball. Japan had the chance but the ball was not intercepted cleanly. Japan on the attack Let’s go India hold the edge, but it is the finals and past results really do not matter National Anthem time The teams are out there and sing their national anthems. There is pressure, and tension. Gold up for grabs An Olympic berth awaits A victory will not only yield a gold medal, but the winner qualifies for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The starting XI Here is the Starting XI of the Indian Eves who will play their big Final match at the 18th @asiangames2018 against Japan at 6:30 PM (IST) on 31st August 2018. Watch the action LIVE on @SPNSportsIndia and @SonyLIV. #IndiaKaGame #AsianGames2018 #INDvJPN pic.twitter.com/a0T3aganT7 — Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) August 31, 2018 We are almost there It's been a long journey leading up to this very moment! The Indian Eves are more than ready to face Japan in the Final of the @asiangames2018 in Jakarta & Palembang on 31st August.#IndiaKaGame #AsianGames2018 #INDvJPN pic.twitter.com/I7c2Qs4EZZ — Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) August 31, 2018 The captain speaks . @imranirampal, Captain of the Indian Women's Hockey Team, says the youngsters have exceeded all the expectations and believes that they will rise to the occasion when the Eves face Japan in the Final of the @asiangames2018 on 31st August.#IndiaKaGame #AsianGames2018 pic.twitter.com/itWbN0Z8aC — Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) August 31, 2018 It is all building up, folks Watch the Indian Women's Hockey Team shape up for their Final against Japan at the @asiangames2018 in Jakarta & Palembang on 31st August.#IndiaKaGame #AsianGames2018 pic.twitter.com/ViwCWvwp1s — Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) August 31, 2018 Recent form of India Earlier this year, India could not achieve a podium finish, but then managed to beat Olympic champions England, and lost narrowly to Australia in the semi-final. India have been in good form The eves have registered huge victories against Indonesia (8-0), Kazakhstan (21-0), Korea (4-1) and Thailand (5-0) in the pool stages India won bronze in the previous edition<doc-sep>Japan celebrate after defeating India by 2-1 in the women’s hockey final. This is their first gold medal in women’s hockey at the Asian Games. (PTI Photo) Japan celebrate after defeating India by 2-1 in the women’s hockey final. This is their first gold medal in women’s hockey at the Asian Games. (PTI Photo) There’s a Tokyo tinge to every time a Japanese team takes the field in the lead-up to the 2020 Olympics. Two days at hockey with Japan making both the men’s and women’s finals at the Asiad — getting rid of Pakistan in men and denying the Indian women a title — proves that the country was not keen to play just as hosts, but were hoping to be competitive contenders when the Games fetched up. It didn’t help that the Indian women’s team made heavy weather of the chances they got going down 2-1 in the finals. Japan’s high pressing and incisive converting of opportunities in the women’s final of the Asian Games – 2 out of 5 shots on target, as against India’s 1 off 10 – showed the rapid progress Japan had made in the run-up to their home Games. That it cost India a title and an Olympics spot, is the ultimate double whammy. But the cherry blossoms are set to bloom out of season in two years from now, as the Sakura – that’s what the woman’s team is called – reap the benefits of the increased resources at their disposal. Pressing high up the field and playing an aggressive brand of hockey in the finals on Friday, Japan overcame one of the better defenses of the tournament in the Indians. Two penalty corner conversions – one in each half through Shimizu and Kawamura — would put Japan ahead early in each of the two halves. Shimizu would go high up on the top right corner, while Kawamura would make it 2 out of 2, with India scoring one through a field goal before half-time. India’s circle-penetrations remained poor — a carry over from the World Cup — and their inability to steal the PCs left them vulnerable. Excessive reliance on long shots in the ‘D’ and the ensuing chaos leading to a goal would work that once – when Navneet Kaur flicked it back for Neha Goyal to tip it over in the 25th minute, but that was never going to be enough. India had far better control and possession on the ball, but modern hockey is seldom about keeping custody. India were not particularly sizzling in the third, and chances went astray, with all hopes on a desperate penalty corner 39 seconds from finish, after India had pulled out goalkeeper Savita. Japan on the other hand were aggressive in their play and clockwork at interceptions; it’s what they’ve worked on the last couple of years. Japan started putting systems in place with the coming of its Australian coaching group, led by Anthony James – who was selected from a rigorous interviewing process. “This victory is a culmination of a year and half’s working process,” said assistant coach John Patrick, an Australian who’s been coaching a Japanese university side for the last 30 years. “We played a lot of different players in different tournaments. So the group that played at the World Cup wasn’t the same as this one. This means that we have a pool of a good 40 players – this bunch and others equally good and pushing them, back home,” he would add. All save one from the team that won the Asian Games work for “companies.” That’s Sony, Coca Cola, Sompo Security and the top national bank. While girls are scouted out of high school, Japan were determined to pick strong, big players who could be aggressive up front, even while retaining the skill. “Results change mindset, and now we are ready to compete at the global level,” Patrick added. James coached the Canadian men and the Japanese were impressed with the work he’d put in in the World League. His brief was to build a steady team, but he recognised that there would be times when they’d have to win even on a bad day. “We focussed on regaining the ball with speed, and thankfully India didn’t get a touch when it got crowded,” James said in what was more an indictment of India’s inability than Japan’s proficiency. “Our attacking transition is good, defensive transition not where it needs to be. At the Olympics, there will be pressure that’s 10 times this game. Holland is a step above the rest, but in women’s hockey, from No 2 to No 16, anyone can beat anyone,” James who’s with the team since June 2017 said. Japan’s programme in hockey — their men’s team play Malaysia in the finals on Saturday — is not limiting itself to the Olympics though. “Of course we are putting in resources to be professional and successful at the Olympics. But we also want to create a legacy in hockey taking off from Tokyo. Japan’s always had good players. But they needed to be given confidence,” the head coach would say. Moving bag, baggage, family to Japan — a country where he didn’t know the language — was a challenge he’s slowly warmed up to, and the biggest change he’s brought about is in the aggressive intent of the team. At half-time, the teams were tied at 1-1. It’s when James would press upon the women to get control back on the ball and increase the pace of rotations in the midfield. At full-time India were left rueing their chances. Japan didn’t have to qualify for Tokyo — that they insisted on earning that right to play, means they’ll be more than the gracious hosts in two years.<doc-sep>Asian Games 2018 India vs Japan Women’s Hockey Final Highlights: India lost to Japan. (Source: File) Asian Games 2018 India vs Japan Women’s Hockey Final Highlights: India lost to Japan. (Source: File) Asian Games 2018 India vs Japan Women’s Hockey Final Highlights: India finished second best to Japan in the gold medal match of women’s hockey at the 18th Asian Games. India went down 1-2 after the two were locked at 1-1 at half time. Japan took the lead in the first quarter courtesy Shimizu before Neha Goyal drew parity in the second quarter. Motomi put Japan ahead at the close of third quarter and shut shop in the final 15 minutes to win their first Asian Games gold medal. The silver is India’s best finish since 1998 but the 36-year wait for gold continues.<doc-sep>The Indian women hockey team's dream of reclaiming the gold at the Asian Games after 36 years remained unfulfilled as it lost 1-2 to Japan to settle for the silver medal on Friday. It was yet another heartbreak for Indian hockey, a day after the fancied men's team lost to Malaysia via penalty shoot-out in the semifinals. Coming into the match, the Indians were favourites to the title as they are ranked five places above Japan at ninth in the world rankings. But the Japanese matched India stick for stick and took the lead in the 11th minute when Minami Shimizu converted their first penalty corner. India, however, did not give up and pressed hard for the equaliser which came in the 25th minute when Neha Goyal deflected in a Navneet Kaur reverse hit pass, as both the teams went into the breather locked at 1-1. Promoted The Japanese, however, came out rejuvenated after the change of ends and restored their lead through another penalty corner conversion, by skipper Motomi Kawamura in the 44th minute. In the final quarter, the Indians pressed hard in search of the equaliser but Japan defended in numbers to win the match and claim the gold medal.<doc-sep>
Indian women's team poses after the medals ceremony. (AFP Photo) JAKARTA: The Indian women's hockey team failed to break its 36-year-old gold jinx after losing to Japan 1-2 in a keenly contested summit clash to settle for the silver medal at the 18th Asian Games here on Friday.The loss will hurt the Indians badly as a gold here would have guaranteed a direct qualification in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.Minami Shimizu and Motomori Kawamura scored for Japan through penalty corners in the 11th and 44th minute while Neha Goyal's field goal in the 25th minute was the lone strike for India, who were aiming to win their first Asiad gold since 1982.The Indians had qualified for the final of the Asian Games after a gap of 20 years, having beaten China in the semi-finals.Ahead of the Olympics, Japanese hockey is on the right track with the women winning their maiden Asian Games title after finishing runners-up thrice.For Indian hockey, there was more disappointment after the fancied men's team failed to defend its gold following their loss to Malaysia in the semi-finals on Thursday.Coming into the match, the Indians were favourites to win the title as they are ranked five places above Japan at ninth in the world rankings.In the first quarter, India made more forays into the opposition circle but lacked the finishing touch. Their first big opportunity came in fourth minute when Navneet Kaur could not do much with captain Rani Rampal's pass into the striking zone.Japan had their opportunity too in the eighth minute but Indian goalkeeper Savita made a good save.Navneet then helped India get their first penalty corner in the 10th minute but dragflicker Gurjit Kaur could not get it past the Japanese goalkeeper.Another Japanese counter attack followed which resulted in their first penalty corner, which was clinically converted by Shimizu in the 11th minute.Down by a goal, India kept attacking but with little precision.Sensing urgency, India pressed hard for the equaliser in the second quarter. They came close when Sunita Lakra provided a finely placed pass to Udita but she could not make it count.India drew level in the 25th minute when Navneet Kaur's crisp reverse hit was neatly deflected in by a patiently waiting Neha.India were the better team in the second quarter, creating more chances and had the ball a lot more than the Japanese.In the 36th minute, a skilful one-two from Vandana Katariya and Navjot Kaur almost got India the lead but Udita's shot was saved by the Japanese keeper.Seconds later, another opportunity was missed when Vandana's attempt was parried away by the custodian.The Japanese got their first major opportunity of the third quarter when they earned a penalty corner in the 44th minute and Motomi executed a delightful finish, taking the ball on the left and firing it in with a reverse hit.The Indian fans, who turned up in sizeable number, were left shell shocked with the Japanese goal.The Indian women, like their male counterparts in the semi-finals yesterday, were guilty of holding on to the ball for far too long while the Japanese operated with quick passes.With less than 10 minutes remaining on the clock, the Indian shirts were a constant in the opposition circle but they could not find the back of the net.With a goal lead and end drawing closer, the Japanese expectedly slowed the game down when once they reached the Indian half.India withdrew their goalkeeper Savita with two minutes remaining as India desperately pushed for an equaliser.They even got two chances with 40 seconds left on the clock but failed to find the Japanese net.