<p>Under-fire captain Harmanpreet Singh finally came good with his drag flick as he and young striker Abhishek struck a brace each as India demolished Asian Games champions Japan 8-0 in an inconsequential FIH Men's World Cup classification match here on Thursday.</p>.<p>India, who had made a shock exit from the showpiece event after losing to New Zealand in their crossover match, played their best game but it came too late in the tournament.</p>.<p>The hosts, who scored four goals each in the third and fourth quarters, will now play South Africa in the ninth to 12th place match on Saturday.</p>.<p>Harmanpreet (46th and 59th minutes) struck twice in the fourth quarter off penalty corners, which should boost his confidence a bit after repeated failures with his drag flick throughout the tournament. He had taken most of India's 26 PCs before Thursday's classification match.</p>.<p>He also took the majority of the 11 PCs India earned on Thursday.</p>.<p>He had also scored once earlier from his drag flick in the dying moments of the final Pool D match against Wales, but that was after the opponents had taken out the goalkeeper in lieu of an outfield player.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/how-odisha-became-the-capital-of-indian-hockey-1184190.html" target="_blank">How Odisha became the capital of Indian hockey</a></strong></p>.<p>The 23-year-old Abhishek, known only by his first name, scored in the 36th and 44th minutes -- both field goals -- while Mandeep Singh (33rd), Vivek Sagar Prasad (40th), Manpreet Singh (59th) and Sukhjeet Singh (60th) were the other goal-getters for India.</p>.<p>After a goalless first half, India scored four goals in the third quarter and added four more in the fourth in a lopsided match, where more than 60 per cent possession was with the hosts.</p>.<p>A full-capacity crowd turned up at the Birsa Munda Stadium to watch the classification match and the spectators were treated to the home side's most convincing win in the tournament.</p>.<p>India were the dominant side in the first quarter with more circle penetration. The home side earned back-to-back PCs in the 12th minute but Harmanpreet could not score from both. Raj Kumar Pal struck a powerful reverse hit in the 14th minute but missed the target.</p>.<p>Abhishek had a golden chance with a few seconds left in the first quarter but his shot was blocked by Japanese goalkeeper Yoshikawa Takashi.</p>.<p>Japan earned back-to-back PCs just as the second quarter started but wasted both.</p>.<p>India quickly counter-attacked and Akashdeep Singh's snapshot from the top of the striking circle was again blocked by Takashi. Harmanpreet then wasted India's third PC.</p>.<p>Lalit Upadhyay had another go at the Japanese goal but Takashi was at it, denying India yet again.</p>.<p>India had at least 16 circle penetrations till the half time as against nine by Japan but that domination did no translate into goals.</p>.<p>India scored three minutes after the start of third quarter from a penalty-corner variation. Amit Rohidas' push was deflected into the goal by Mandeep Singh for his first goal of the tournament.</p>.<p>Three minutes later, Abhishek made it 2-0 as his reverse sweep off a fine pass from Vivek Sagar Prasad beat the Japanese goalkeeper.</p>.<p>India's dominance continued to grow as the hosts took the game away from Japan's reach with their third goal in the 40th minute from their sixth PC.</p>.<p>Prasad scored his maiden World Cup goal after Harmanpreet's drag flick ricocheted from a defender's stick.</p>.<p>Abhishek completed his brace a minute before the end of the third quarter as his high reverse shot following a pass from Prasad found the net.</p>.<p>Harmanpreet finally found the target with his drag flick in the first minute of the fourth quarter as India continued their goal-scoring spree.</p>.<p>Senior player Manpreet and Sukhjeet joined the party with goals towards the end of the match.</p>.<p>In other classification matches here, South Africa beat Malaysia 6-3 while debutants Wales defeated France 2-1 in the penalty shootout to register their maiden World Cup win after the sides were locked 2-2 at the end of regulation time.</p>.<p>Wales will face Argentina, who hammered neighbours Chile 8-0 in another classification match, in the 9th to 12th place match on Saturday.</p>
<p>Under-fire captain Harmanpreet Singh finally came good with his drag flick as he and young striker Abhishek struck a brace each as India demolished Asian Games champions Japan 8-0 in an inconsequential FIH Men's World Cup classification match here on Thursday.</p>.<p>India, who had made a shock exit from the showpiece event after losing to New Zealand in their crossover match, played their best game but it came too late in the tournament.</p>.<p>The hosts, who scored four goals each in the third and fourth quarters, will now play South Africa in the ninth to 12th place match on Saturday.</p>.<p>Harmanpreet (46th and 59th minutes) struck twice in the fourth quarter off penalty corners, which should boost his confidence a bit after repeated failures with his drag flick throughout the tournament. He had taken most of India's 26 PCs before Thursday's classification match.</p>.<p>He also took the majority of the 11 PCs India earned on Thursday.</p>.<p>He had also scored once earlier from his drag flick in the dying moments of the final Pool D match against Wales, but that was after the opponents had taken out the goalkeeper in lieu of an outfield player.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/how-odisha-became-the-capital-of-indian-hockey-1184190.html" target="_blank">How Odisha became the capital of Indian hockey</a></strong></p>.<p>The 23-year-old Abhishek, known only by his first name, scored in the 36th and 44th minutes -- both field goals -- while Mandeep Singh (33rd), Vivek Sagar Prasad (40th), Manpreet Singh (59th) and Sukhjeet Singh (60th) were the other goal-getters for India.</p>.<p>After a goalless first half, India scored four goals in the third quarter and added four more in the fourth in a lopsided match, where more than 60 per cent possession was with the hosts.</p>.<p>A full-capacity crowd turned up at the Birsa Munda Stadium to watch the classification match and the spectators were treated to the home side's most convincing win in the tournament.</p>.<p>India were the dominant side in the first quarter with more circle penetration. The home side earned back-to-back PCs in the 12th minute but Harmanpreet could not score from both. Raj Kumar Pal struck a powerful reverse hit in the 14th minute but missed the target.</p>.<p>Abhishek had a golden chance with a few seconds left in the first quarter but his shot was blocked by Japanese goalkeeper Yoshikawa Takashi.</p>.<p>Japan earned back-to-back PCs just as the second quarter started but wasted both.</p>.<p>India quickly counter-attacked and Akashdeep Singh's snapshot from the top of the striking circle was again blocked by Takashi. Harmanpreet then wasted India's third PC.</p>.<p>Lalit Upadhyay had another go at the Japanese goal but Takashi was at it, denying India yet again.</p>.<p>India had at least 16 circle penetrations till the half time as against nine by Japan but that domination did no translate into goals.</p>.<p>India scored three minutes after the start of third quarter from a penalty-corner variation. Amit Rohidas' push was deflected into the goal by Mandeep Singh for his first goal of the tournament.</p>.<p>Three minutes later, Abhishek made it 2-0 as his reverse sweep off a fine pass from Vivek Sagar Prasad beat the Japanese goalkeeper.</p>.<p>India's dominance continued to grow as the hosts took the game away from Japan's reach with their third goal in the 40th minute from their sixth PC.</p>.<p>Prasad scored his maiden World Cup goal after Harmanpreet's drag flick ricocheted from a defender's stick.</p>.<p>Abhishek completed his brace a minute before the end of the third quarter as his high reverse shot following a pass from Prasad found the net.</p>.<p>Harmanpreet finally found the target with his drag flick in the first minute of the fourth quarter as India continued their goal-scoring spree.</p>.<p>Senior player Manpreet and Sukhjeet joined the party with goals towards the end of the match.</p>.<p>In other classification matches here, South Africa beat Malaysia 6-3 while debutants Wales defeated France 2-1 in the penalty shootout to register their maiden World Cup win after the sides were locked 2-2 at the end of regulation time.</p>.<p>Wales will face Argentina, who hammered neighbours Chile 8-0 in another classification match, in the 9th to 12th place match on Saturday.</p>