India, who had been eliminated from the competition after losing to New Zealand in their crossover match, played their greatest game of the tournament...
Digital Desk: Harmanpreet Singh's drag move finally paid off as he and teenage striker Abhishek scored a brace each as India defeated Asian Games champions Japan 8-0 in an unimportant FIH Men's World Cup classification match here on Thursday.
India, who had been eliminated from the competition after losing to New Zealand in their crossover match, played their greatest game of the tournament, although it came too late in the tournament.
The hosts, who scored four goals in the third and fourth quarters, will face South Africa in the ninth to twelfth-place match on Saturday.
The Birsa Munda Stadium was packed to capacity for the classification match, and the supporters were treated to the home team's most dominant triumph of the tournament.
India's domination grew as the hosts pulled the game away from Japan in the 40th minute with their third goal from their sixth PC.
Harmanpreet's drag flick bounced off a defender's stick, allowing Prasad to score his first World Cup goal.
A minute before the end of the third quarter, Abhishek accomplished his hat trick with a high reverse shot of a Prasad pass that found the net.
Harmanpreet finally found the target with his drag flick in the first minute of the fourth quarter, as India's goal-scoring streak continued.
Senior players Manpreet and Sukhjeet chipped in with goals near the end of the game.
South Africa trounced Malaysia 6-3, while Wales overcame France 2-1 in a penalty shootout to claim their first World Cup victory after the teams were tied 2-2 at the end of ordinary time.
On Saturday, Wales will face Argentina, who thrashed neighbouring Chile 8-0 in another classification match.
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