India top points-table with four wins in a row

GUANGZHOU: Star drag-flicker Sandeep Singh continued his goal-scoring spree as India defeated Japan 3-2 for their fourth consecutive win and finished atop the points-table in group B of the Asian Games men's hockey competition, on Sunday.

Sandeep kept a cent per cent record in penalty corners today, converting the two short corners India earned in the day with precision in the 38th and 62nd minute to see his team finish the preliminary stage on an impressive note.

However, it was captain Rajpal Singh (31st minute) who drew parity for India after Japan had surged ahead with a Hiroki Sakamoto strike in the 21st minute.

And then seven minutes later Sandeep converted the first of his two set pieces with a fierce drag-flick to ensure his team a 2-1 lead at the breather.

Crossing over, both the teams struggled hard for goals till the 62nd minute when Sandeep once again was bang on target from India's second penalty corner.

Japan, however, pulled one back a minute later through another field strike from Sakamoto.

With four wins out of as many matches, India finished on top of Group B with 12 points, while arch-rivals Pakistan finished second with nine points.

India will now take on the second placed team from Group A -- the winners of the match between China or Malaysia later in the day -- in the semifinals on November 24 while Pakistan will be up against formidable Korea.

Read more: India top points-table with four wins in a row - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/16th-asian-games-2010/india-news/India-top-points-table-with-four-wins-in-a-row/articleshow/6964647.cms#ixzz15z0cKEK2

Asian Games 2010: 27 Days Remaining

Guangzhou: China: The 16th Asian Games has 30 days remaining before the Opening Ceremonies of the Games on Friday, November 12. The Asian Games 2010 are the part of the worldwide Olympic movement and governed by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA)

The Asian Games are the second largest sports event in the world after the Summer Olympic Games.

Games organizers and civic officials are in the final preparation work for the Games with all final construction within the city, including all final beautification projects, must be completed by November 1.

More than 80 percent of the stadiums used for training and competition during the Games will be connected by subway trains.

This includes an all-new subway line from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport – some 35 kilometers from downtown Guangzhou – linking the city of 10 million residents with the airport which has doubled in size in anticipation of the Games and future growth of the Pearl River Delta.

The Asian Games Torch Relay has started from its lighting last week at the Great Wall from Beijing to 21 cities in Guangdong Province

It will also travel to Harbin in Heilongjiang, Changchun in Jilin and Haiyang in Shandong.

More than 2,000 torch bearers ranging from 6 to 100 years old will participate in the one-month relay.

Demonstrative Torch Relay for Asian Games held in Harbin

Harbin, October 14 - The torch of the Guangzhou 2010 Asian Games reached Harbin in Northeast China on Thursday (October 14) and 21 torchbearers took part in a demonstrative relay on the ice at Harbin Ice Hockey Gym, according to Xinhua.