Asian Champions Trophy: The target is to reach the final, says Japan Head Coach Akira Takahashi

Japan coach Akira Takahashi is confident his team will deliver in the Asian Champions Trophy, despite facing tough opponents. He is banking on experienced players and a few young ones to reach the final.

In his third term as the head coach of Japan, Akira Takahashi is facing a mighty challenge as the team gears up for the Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament beginning here on August 3. Japan will take on Korea in its first match.

Since taking over as Japan coach in November 2021, Takahashi hasn’t had encouraging results in major tournaments.

The only positive result Takahashi achieved since taking charge has been, co-incidentally, the Asian Champions Trophy held in Dhaka in December 2021, where the team finished runner-up to Korea.

There is immense pressure on Takahashi as Japan is the defending champion in the 2018 Asian Games as well.

The 51-year-old, however, was calmness personified as he marshalled his troops at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium here on Wednesday under the merciless hot sun.

When asked about the weather, Takahashi, speaking to The Hindu through a translator, dismissed it lightly. “It is the same as in Japan.”

It is clear that Takahashi doesn’t want to dwell in the past and is focused on the job at hand. He is confident that his players will deliver. “We have fifty per cent of players who are experienced and the rest who are young.