SAS NAGAR (MOHALI): The 18-member Japan Men’s Field Hockey Team landed at the Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport, Mohali, to participate in the Asian Champions Trophy, scheduled to be held at Jalandhar and Mohali from October 27 to November 5.
The team was accorded a grand welcome at the airport with the beats of Bhangra, traditional garlands and Punjabi hospitality by officials of the Sports department. The visiting players, who were visibly delighted by the warm reception, thanked the hosts and expressed excitement to play in Punjab, the land of hockey legends.
The Japan squad for the tournament includes: Yamada Shota, Tanaka Seren, Watanbe Jun, Matsumoto Kazumasa, Nagai Yuma, Yamashita Manabu, Fujishima Raiki (Captain), Nagayoshi Ken, Saito Hiro, Kashiwagi Ren, Tanaka Tsubasa, Ooka Ryoma, Kawamura Yusuke, Kuroda Kisho (Goalkeeper), Yamanaka Motoya, Ochiai Haruki, Kitagawa Takumi (Goalkeeper) and Fukuda Kentaro.
Other than Japan and hosts India, teams from South Korea, China, Malaysia and Bangladesh are also participating in the Asian Champions Trophy tournament which would start on October 27th at Olympian Surjit Hockey stadium in Jalandhar while the Final would be played at Olympian Balbir Singh Senior hockey stadium in Mohali on November 5th.
