Dravid’s boys cheer Indian hockey team to win vs Japan

TAURANGA, NEW ZEALAND: Dilpreet Singh and debutant Vivek Sagar Prasad struck a brace each as the Indian men’s hockey team thrashed Japan 6-0 in its opening match of the double-leg Four Nations Invitational Tournament.

Apart from Dilpreet (35’, 45’) and Vivek (12’, 28’), Rupinder (7’) and Harmanpreet Singh (41’) also scored in India’s win.

With the India U-19 World Cup cricket squad in attendance, the team got off to a dominant start, controlling the ball rather swiftly, passing around neatly and quickly. India won their first penalty corner of the game in the seventh minute and it was young gun Harmanpreet Singh, who stepped up to drag flick.

His attempt though was blocked but since the obstruction came off his body, India were awarded a penalty stroke.

The teams went into the half time break with India having a comfortable 3-0 lead. India were unrelenting in creating pressure on Japan, pressing them high up constantly, rarely giving them an opportunity to enter India’s D.