India thrash Japan 6-0 in Asian Champions Trophy Men's Hockey tournament

Dhaka: In Asian Champions Trophy Men's Hockey tournament, defending champion India thrashed Japan 6-0 in the final round-robin match in Dhaka last evening. Penalty corner specialist Harmanpreet Singh scored a brace while Dilpreet Singh, Jarmanpreet Singh, Sumit and Shamsher Singh added a goal each.

India, the Tokyo Olympics Bronze medallists, had already booked their semi-finals berth in the tournament.

India kicked off its title defence in style at the Champions Trophy with three wins



and a draw from four games so far. Playing their first tournament after a historic Olympic campaign, India were held to a 2-2 draw by Korea in the opener. Later the players lifted their games by leap and bounds to trounce hosts Bangladesh 9-0 and then got the better of arch-rivals Pakistan 3-1 on Friday.

Manpreet Singh-led Indian team now have 10 points from four matches, which means they will face the fourth-placed team in the semi-finals on Tuesday.