India defeated Asian Games champion Japan 2-0 to start its campaign at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey event on a positive notice on Saturday. Varun Kumar transformed a penalty nook inside the twenty-fourth minute at hand India the lead before Simranjeet Singh (fifty fifths)
scored a diving discipline purpose from skipper Manpreet Singh’s superb skip to cozy complete 3 points for the five-time champions. India will play Korea of their next league game on Sunday earlier than taking up hosts Malaysia (March 26), Canada (March March 27) and Poland (March 29). The top two groups from the round robin league degree will play within the final on March 30. After a goalless first region, India slowly took control of the complaints. Eight minutes into the second quarter, India received a penalty corner and Varun made no mistake in locating the back of the Japanese intention with a powerful drag-flick. The Indian midfield manned by using skipper Manpreet and Kothajit Singh stole the limelight by developing several scoring chances but the forward line turned into guilty of losing possibilities. In the 1/3 zone, Japan secured their first penalty corner in the thirty-third minute but India custodian PR Sreejesh did properly to thwart the chance. The following mins saw each India and Japan create scoring opportunities however in vain. With two minutes closing for the third shooter, Japanese striker Kenji Kitazato took a brave shot on aim however neglected the submit with the aid of a huge margin. Playing in overcast conditions with temperature soaring around 28 levels, India persisted its hunt for a 2d intention and earned a penalty corner inside minutes of the fourth quarter. But this time Varun ignored the mark, permitting Japan to release a short counter attack, which turned into stored at bay through Birendra Lakra’s alertness. Japan attempted exceptional ways to dislodge India, used full-press to benefit ball-possession, however, did now not be triumphant. Japan removed their goalkeeper to add a further guy within the fifty-fifth minute but the tactic backfired with India utilizing the opportunity to double their lead. With just minutes final, Japan secured another penalty nook however the attempt changed into properly-defended by Surender Kumar, sponsored through goalkeeper Krishan Pathak, who changed Sreejesh after 1/2-time.
Himanshu Jain recorded the very best ruin of 107 factors to register a 19-forty seven, 50-sixty three, 42-37, 115(107)-15, 38-36 win over Vishal Vaya and helped Wadeshwar Wizards to make it to the knockout spherical at the 13th Edition of PYC-ATC Snooker Challenge on Friday. In other two matches Wadeshwar Wizards edged out MP Strikers and Corner Pockets Shooters with equal margin 2-1 to make it to the knock out from the institution H. Outstation group from Karnataka KSBA registered 3-0 victory over Deccan Rhinos and a couple of-of-1 win over Auto Pots respectively. Yogesh Kumar, M.S.Arun and Daksh Reddy led the way to easy victories. In every other, in shape veterans, Arun Barve, Salil Deshpande and Rohit Nargolkar of PYC Giants helped the group to score an instantly 3-0 win over Deccan Rookies. In the group, G fits The Ball Hogz persevered their winning streak after defeating Poona Club B 3-zero and 147 Pool n Snooker 3-zero respectively.
India won their 5th consecutive SAFF Women’s Football championship on Friday defeating hosts Nepal 3-1 within the finals. Dalima Chhiber, Grace Dangmei, and replacement Anju scored for the team. This win has extended India’s run in the match history to 23 video games. The tempo of the fit become intense from the word go as each aspect pressed hard to score. Dalima changed into able to offer India with the first intention, just like the semi-final conflict towards Bangladesh. She was capable of giving India the lead in the 26th minute of the suit when she smashed the ball past the keeper from an unfastened-kick from 30 yards with a powerful power and positioned the defending champions into a 1-0 lead. Nepal came returned strongly within the 34th minute, as Sabitra equalized for the hosts. At the midway mark, the scoreline turned into tied at 1-1. But the second one half of noticed attacking sport from each team. In the second half of, India created several possibilities. India’s momentum eventually paid off in the 63rd minute while Grace got her name at the scoring sheet. Coach Maymol Rocky brought on Anju Tamang in the vicinity of Sandhiya midway through the second one 1/2 and in the 78th minute of the healthy, the pass paid off as she too turned into able to get her to call on the scoring sheet, breaking the returned of the hosts. Nepal stored on striding hard, but India’s defense became able to preserve a hold, ensuing in an Indian win. India loses to Uzbekistan in AFC U23 qualifiers opener India suffered a 0-3 loss at the fingers of protecting champions Uzbekistan inside the AFC U-23 Championship qualifiers on Friday. Uzbek captain Solomon Kobilov placed the house team in front via a primary-half of penalty, earlier than second-half replacement Bobir Abdixolikov netted twice in the final 10 minutes to take the game far away from the Indians.
