As a hockey boy at the Tokyo Olympics, Japan faced the second round of the qualifying league and lost to Argentina, who won the gold medal at the previous Rio de Janeiro tournament, 1-2, resulting in two consecutive losses.
In the men's hockey team, 12 teams will be divided into groups of 6 teams to play a round-robin qualifying league, and the top 4 teams will advance to the quarterfinals.
Japan, which participated for the first time in 53 years, lost to Australia, which ranked first in the world ranking in the first match of the qualifying league, and played against Argentina, who won the gold medal at the previous Rio de Janeiro tournament, in the second match.
Immediately after the start, Japan was deprived of the first goal from the penalty corner, and the ball that had emerged in the second quarter was hit by the goal, and it was a painful development to lose the second goal.
Kenta Tanaka returned 1 point with a goal just before the end, but he did not fight back and lost 1 to 2 and lost 2 consecutive games.
Japan will face New Zealand in Round 3 of the qualifying league on the 27th.
Captain Yamashita "I want to improve the accuracy of play and concentrate on fighting"
Captain Manabu Yamashita looked back on the match and said, "It's a reflection that we had a difficult time chasing two points. Even in the attack, the penalty corner decision rate was low."
Still, for the next game, "As with yesterday's first game, it is functioning as a team and the atmosphere is good. After that, I will improve the accuracy of the play and concentrate on each game. I want to go, "he said.
Scored two games in a row Tanaka "I want to keep going"
Kenta Tanaka, who scored two games in a row just before the end, said, "We couldn't play what we wanted because we got points in the first half. We have to improve our attacks so that we can make things, "he recalled.
After that, he said, "I have decided the score, but as a result I have lost, so I am still not enough. I want to keep on doing it."