The Hindu : Can Japan sustain its resurgence?

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 04, 2004

Sport

Sport - Hockey

Can Japan sustain its resurgence?

By Rakesh Rao

NEW DELHI, FEB. 3. After two days of action in the women's Asia Cup, much of the focus has remained on India and China. Their performance, irrespective of the quality, has been a subject of assessment but the trend is likely to change.

Defending champion Korea and a resurgent Japan will engage the attention of all when they clash to decide the leader in Pool `B' when the tournament resumes on Wednesday after a rest day.

Effectively, it has been a two-horse race in this pool, what with Singapore and Sri Lanka providing token resistance so far.

The big wins only show that Japan is not holding anything back. The bronze medal in the four-nation field of Asian Games 2002, ahead of India, had done a world of good to Japan's confidence. Now it is keen to consolidate its position in the continent.

Japan's squad comprises 14 members from the one that played in the World Cup and 12 in the Asian Games, both in 2002. Let us also not forget that in the Asian Games, the same Japanese team beat India not once but twice — 3-2 in the league and 2-0 in the playoff for the bronze.

It's obvious that on the eve of the competition when India's coach M.K. Kaushik spoke of being satisfied if India won the bronze ahead of Japan, he had not studied this Japanese line-up carefully. By the looks of the other teams, Japan appears good enough to go all the way.

But Japan's first big test will be Korea, against which it does not enjoy a good record. Since this Korean squad is not the strongest, for once, Japan will be the favourite against Korea.

Given a choice, both teams will prefer to play India, instead of China, in the semifinals. Moreover, by the time Japan plays Korea, the placings of India and China will be known since the Pool `A' matches are scheduled in the morning.

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