India women storm into Asian Games hockey semifinals with 3-1 win over Japan

NAGOYA: With 59 goals from four matches and another to go, the Indian women’s hockey team stormed into the semifinals on Friday after easing past hosts Japan 3-1 at the Gifu Prefectural Green Stadium.Playing an attacking brand of hockey, India took the lead through Lalremsiami in the fifth minute. Japan threatened on the counter and enjoyed periods of possession, but India remained in control of the game.Ishika doubled India’s lead in the 30th minute, scoring from the rebound after Japanese goalkeeper Yu Kudo saved Navneet Kaur’s penalty-corner attempt.India extended their advantage six minutes later when Navneet scooped the ball over the goalkeeper’s head to make it 3-0.Japan managed to pull one back through Shiho Kobayakawa in the 46th minute, but India held their nerve in the closing stages to prevent the hosts from making a comeback.After scoring goals by the dozen in their earlier matches, India faced their first real test of the competition. Japan’s speed and agility helped them control possession, with the hosts enjoying 58% of the ball.However, the biggest difference between the two teams was their execution. Japan earned six penalty corners, particularly through their counter-attacking play, but failed to convert any of them. They also did well defensively, restricting India to just two penalty corners.India’s chief coach Sjoerd Marijne admitted his team could have scored more goals and needed to cut down on mistakes.“We played well but we needed to score more goals. Also, we gave away possession easily a few times. Silly mistakes have to go out of our play,” he told TOI.India will play Singapore in their final match on Saturday, but Marijne is already focused on the knockout stage and believes his side needs to raise its intensity.“Ahead of the semis, it was important to bring that energy back into our game,” he said.Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news, check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.