Busan: Defending champion India moved into the semi-finals of the Asian Games hockey with a 3-0 win over Japan in a Group ‘A’ preliminary match at the Ganseo Stadium on Tuesday.

Deepak Thakur, Dhanraj Pillay and Daljit Singh Dhillon - all scored a goal each as India scored its second straight victory in league encounters.

With Japan losing both its matches – it lost its opening match to Korea 0-4 on Sunday - India's second win assures it of a top-two finish in Group ‘A’, guaranteeing it a semi-final slot.

India had earlier defeated Hong Kong 5-1 and next plays South Korea on Friday.

In an earlier match in Group ‘B’, two goals each from skipper Shanmuganathan Kuhan and Chua Boon Huat helped Malaysia defeat Bangladesh 6-1.

Japan, who had held Bangkok Games gold medallist India to a draw in its previous encounter in the Kuala Lumpur World Cup earlier this year, seemed once again to upset the calculations of the Asian powerhouse.

But once Deepak Thakur gave it the opening goal in 20th minute, India broke Japan's stranglehold and took command of the match.

The second goal came 10 minutes into the second half when Pillay slammed in a rebound from the Japanese goal-keeper's block off a Gagan Ajit Singh shot.

The third, which came in the 55th minute, was a combination of fantastic move by Ignace Tirkey who weaved past two defender and smart finish by Dhillon.