Japan hosted India in the India in Japan tournament on 22 September 2026. The visitors edged through in a tight finish, 30:32. The scoreline tells you little about the contest itself.
Japan came into this off a narrow defeat to Hong Kong on 19 September. Their recent form has been mixed — a heavy win over Papua New Guinea, then back-to-back losses to Samoa and the Cook Islands. Things came to a head here, and Japan fell short.
India's run has been something else entirely. Three consecutive matches against Afghanistan, all won by comfortable margins. Then came the Sri Lanka fixtures — scores that defy explanation. But somehow they arrived here, and they took the win.
The match itself was decided by moments. By then, the heat had taken the sting out of what could have been a comfortable finish for either side. Three or four episodes decided it, not the full forty minutes.
India extended their winning run to five matches. Japan's streak ended at two wins and two losses across their last four games. The result keeps India moving forward.
