Overview

• India sit atop Pool A with six points from two matches after edging China 4-3 and Japan 3-2 in Rajgir.
• Mandeep Singh struck an early field goal before Harmanpreet Singh converted two penalty corners; Japan’s Kosei Kawabe scored twice late as India finished with 10 men after a yellow card to Harmanpreet.
• Goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak marked his 150th international appearance, and Suraj Karkera produced key saves in the final quarter.
• China rebounded by routing Kazakhstan 13-1; the Japan–China match will decide the second Super 4s qualifier from Pool A, with India to face Kazakhstan next.
• Coach Craig Fulton and players acknowledged improved play but stressed defensive tightening and better finishing ahead of the next phase in Rajgir’s taxing conditions.