IND vs JPN Highlights: The Indian men's hockey team, led by Harmanpreet Singh, grabbed their second win of the Hockey Asia Cup 2024 Pool A match on the trot, beating Japan by 3-2 at the Rajgir Hockey Stadium in Bihar.

Mandeep Singh and captain Harmanpreet Singh scored in quick succession, setting the tone for a dominant display.

The 2025 men's hockey Asia Cup is up and running in Rajgir in Bihar with the host, India now preparing to take on Japan after a narrow opening matchday win over China.

Captain Harmanpreet Singh hammered a hattrick of goals including a late winner in what was ultimately a disappointing performance from India as they struggled to find real rhyhm and really had to dig deep to produce the 4-3 result after looking shy of the best. 

It is something they cannot afford to do again- Japan will be flying high and full on confidence after they were able to hammer Kazakhstan 7-0 in their own opener and will be feeling very good about their chances when it comes to upsetting the applecart against the out-of-sorts host. India have had a poor 2025 and their performance against China albeit a win worth its weight in terms of getting a result on the board, will not be something that induces a whole lot of confidence in the team. 

Follow here for all the live updates:

  1. 05:01 PM, 31 Aug 2025

    India vs Japan, Hockey Asia Cup 2025 Live: IND beat JPN

    Harmanpreet Singh's brace and Mandeep's early strike powered India to a 3-2 win over Japan in their second Pool A match on the trot.

  2. 04:56 PM, 31 Aug 2025

    India vs Japan, Hockey Asia Cup 2025 Live: 59’ GOAL!

    Kosei Kawabe doubles Japan's tally with his second goal of the match, putting immense pressure on India.

  3. 04:27 PM, 31 Aug 2025

    India vs Japan, Hockey Asia Cup 2025 Live: 38’ GOAL!

    Kosei Kawabe's clinical finish gives Japan its first goal as India's defence fails to react in time, letting the shot find the top-right corner!

  4. 04:10 PM, 31 Aug 2025

    India vs Japan, Hockey Asia Cup 2025 Live: HALF TIME!

    Mandeep and Harmanpreet's strikes have given India a 2-0 lead, and no goals were scored in the second quarter at halftime!

  5. 03:50 PM, 31 Aug 2025

    India vs Japan, Hockey Asia Cup 2025 Live: First quarter ends!

    Goals from Mandeep and Harmanpreet have India cruising 2-0 up against Japan at the end of the first quarter!

  6. 03:40 PM, 31 Aug 2025

    India vs Japan, Hockey Asia Cup 2025 Live: 5’ GOAL

    After four attempts, Harmanpreet Singh finally breaks the deadlock! Captain finally finds the net after Abhishek's penalty corner sets him up for the decisive goal! 

  7. 03:36 PM, 31 Aug 2025

    India vs Japan, Hockey Asia Cup 2025 Live: GOAL

    Mandeep Singh's composed finish finds the net as Sukhjeet Singh's clever play sets him up for the goal in the 4th minute.

  8. 03:27 PM, 31 Aug 2025

    India vs Japan, Hockey Asia Cup 2025 Live: Match underway

    The first quarter of the Asia Cup 2025 Pool A match between India vs Japan at the Bihar Sports University Hockey Stadium in Rajgir is underway.

  9. 03:24 PM, 31 Aug 2025

    India vs Japan, Hockey Asia Cup 2025 Live: India’s starting line-up!

  10. 03:15 PM, 31 Aug 2025

    India vs Japan, Hockey Asia Cup 2025 Live: India vs Japan: Head-to-Head record!

    Matches - 29

    India wins - 24

    Japan wins - 3

    Draws - 2

  11. 02:44 PM, 31 Aug 2025

    India vs Japan Live Score: Half an hour to start

    Only 30 mins away from when the match will begin. Who starts off as favourites.

  12. 02:29 PM, 31 Aug 2025

    India vs Japan Live Score: Indian team will be on alert after Japan crush Kazakhstan

    Conversely, Japan were flying in their opening encounter of Pool A. They had easier opponents to get things going, but they ensured that things didn't get complicated and just kept rakng up the confidence boosting goals. They have all the momentum and enough to make India feel very wary of the opponents. 

  13. 02:16 PM, 31 Aug 2025

    India vs Japan Live Score: Top spot on the line?

    The winner of this contest will put themselves into a really strong contention to win the group and seal a simpler path to the Asia Cup trophy. Whoever wins will fancy their chances of beating their next opponent and finishing atop, but in order to get that done, winning today is step one of the process. Avoiding the winner of pool B will be important. 

  14. 02:01 PM, 31 Aug 2025

    India vs Japan Live Score: India's squad for the Men's hockey Asia Cup

    Harmanpreet Singh continues to lead the Indian team. Plenty of quality and support around him but it just hasn't clicked in recent months. What can coach Craig Fulton do to fix that. 

    Goalkeepers: Krishan Pathak, Suraj Karkera

    Defenders: Sumit, Jarmanpreet Singh, Sanjay, Harmanpreet Singh (C), Amit Rohidas, Jugraj Singh

    Midfielders: Rajinder Singh, Raj Kumar Pal, Hardik Singh, Manpreet Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad

    Forwards: Mandeep Singh, Shilanand Lakra, Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh, Dilpreet Singh


  15. 01:58 PM, 31 Aug 2025

    India vs Japan Live Score: Hello and welcome

    Welcome back to the men's hockey Asia Cup. A big contest coming up in pool A, where the victors of the first round of matches, will go head-to-head, with India playing against Japan.