HANGZHOU (CHINA), Sept 6:
Navneet Kaur struck from a penalty corner seconds before the final hooter as India came from behind twice to hold defending champions Japan 2-2 in their second pool match of the women’s Asia Cup hockey tournament here on Saturday.
In a pulsating pool B match, Hiroka Murayama gave Japan the lead in the 10th minute before India’s Rutaja Dadaso Pisal equalised in the 30th minute.
Chiko Fujibayashi again put Japan ahead in the 58th minute only to see Navneet restore the parity in the 60th minute.
India, who had thrashed Thailand 11-0 in their opening match, face Singapore in their final pool B match on Monday.
India are currently ranked 10th in the world, while Japan are placed at 12th.
It was a quick start from India with attacks on the Japanese citadel. However, Japan absolved the initial pressure and they even drew first blood when Murayama found the back of the net to round of a sweeping move.
Japan led 1-0 and kept India at bay for the remainder of the first quarter. (PTI)
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