India ease past Japan 4-0 to four Test series victory

The Indian hockey team

The fourth and final Test may have been of academic interest from the Indian perspective given the fact that the home side had already clinched the four Test series, winning two of the first three Tests and drawing one. But there was no let up in intensity from the Paul Van Ass-coached Indian outfit, who were determined to wrap up the series on a high note.

We have seen the resilience of Japan in the Test series, and here again they made India work really hard for their win. The opening quarter of the final Test did not yield any goals for either team, but India really looked fired up in the second quarter, drawing first blood through a fierce drag-flick off a penalty corner by Vokkaliga Raghunath, the goal coming close to the conclusion of the first half. Yuvraj Walmiki, who had a great run in the recent seniors nationals in Pune, continued his good form, notching up the second goal as India went into half-time with a cozy 2-0 lead.

Dharamvir Singh made the scoreline 3-0 in the third quarter as India controlled the proceedings. Japan had their chances and wasted a short corner in the final quarter, and the visitors were made to pay when Akashdeep Singh dished out a fine goal to cap off a convincing 4-0 lead.

India had drawn the first Test 1-1 and had won the second and third Tests by 2-0 and 2-1 margins respectively before this match.