Despite Harmanpreet Singh’s hat-trick, defensive lapses cost India dearly as they conceded three penalty corners. Coach Craig Fulton admitted India will be every team’s biggest target, demanding sharper defence ahead of the clash with Japan.
While Hardik Singh and Mandeep combined well, goalkeepers and defenders will need to step up. With extreme heat adding to the challenge, India face Japan, who come in after a 7-0 win over Kazakhstan, eyeing another strong result.
Squads
India: Sumit, Jarmanpreet Singh, Sanjay, Harmanpreet Singh, Amit Rohidas, Jugraj Singh, Krishan Pathak, Suraj Karkera, Mandeep Singh, Shilanand Lakra, Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh, Dilpreet Singh, Rajinder Singh, Raj Kumar Pal, Hardik Singh, Manpreet Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad.
Japan: Raiki Fujishima, Yuto Higuchi, Kosei Kawabe, Yamato Kawahara, Yusuke Kawamura, Naru Kimura, Kisho Kuroda, Kazumasa Matsumoto, Ken Nagayoshi, Yosei Oba, Shogo Sasaki, Ryosuke Shinohara, Kaito Tanaka, Seren Tanaka, Keita Watanabe, Hyota Yamada, Shota Yamada, Koji Yamasaki, Manabu Yamashita, Takashi Yoshikawa.
