Dhaka, Three-time champions India lost to Japan in the semifinal of the Men's Hockey Asian Champions Trophy here on Tuesday.
India will meet Pakistan for the third and fourth place on December 22. Interestingly, the neighbours were declared the joint winners in the 2018 edition after the rain washed away the final.
Dilpreet Singh, Harmanpreet Singh and Hardik Singh were the goal scorers for India, while Shota Yamad, Raiki Fujishima, Yoshiki Kirishita, Kosie Kawabe and Ryoma Ooka scored for Japan.
Asian Games champions Japan had a perfect start, as Yamada and Fujishima scored in the first and second minute respectively, and handed their side a two-goal lead in just one minute and a half into the play.
India fought back in the second quarter, as Dilpreet opened the account for his side in the 16th minute with a brilliant field goal and reduced the trail 1-2.
The men in blue got a couple of chances to equalise, but Japan showcased a fine defence and stopped India's attack with an ease.
Yoshiki Kirishita scored through penalty stroke in the 29th minute and helped Japan to restore their two-goal advantage.
Japan held a 3-1 lead against India at the end of the second quarter.
In the 35th minute, Japan extended the lead to 4-1 with a field goal from Kosei Kawabe. Ryoma Ooka's 41st minute goal helped Japan go 5-1 up in the match.
India had a tough task in the final quarter as they needed at least four goals to force the match to the shoot-out. However, Japan continued their domination.
With over seven minutes to go for the final hooter, India earned a penalty corner which Harmanpreet converted with his fine drag flick and added second goal to India tally.
In the 57th minute, India got a penalty corner but failed to convert. India managed to find a Japanese player's foot and were awarded another penalty corner. The men in blue, however, missed the target.
In the closing minute, India got another penalty corner and successfully converted into goal by Hardik Singh and reduced the deficit 3-5. But it was too late for India to save the match.
Japan will lock horns with Korea in the final, which is scheduled to take place on December 22.