'Rusty' India play out 1-1 draw with Japan in first hockey Test

Displaying rusty defence, Indian men's hockey team played out a 1-1 draw against Japan to begin its four-match Test series on a disappointing note, in Bhubaneswar on Sunday.

For India drag-flicker VR Raghunath converted a penalty corner in the 44th minute to get even with their opponents after Japan drew first blood in the second quarter.

After a couple of unsuccessful penalty corner attempts by both the teams, Japan struck in the 19th minute.

A Japanese midfielder put a hard slap inside the D and striker Kurogawa Daichi quickly tucked it inside the bar as the visitors took the lead. Attacks and counter-attacks continued in the second and the third quarter as India finally broke even in the third quarter.

Gurbaj earned India a penalty corner and Raghunath clinically converted it into a goal. Sardar Singh pushed the ball in hard and Raghunath dragged it on the left of the Japanese goalkeeper and the ball ticked a defender's stick en route to the net.

Paul Van Ass-coached side got another corner in the 52nd minute but Raghunath failed to get lucky this time around and the scoreline stayed static in the remaining minutes of play. Meanwhile Indian defender Kothajit Singh marked his 100th international appearance in this game.