KARACHI, April 28: Takuya Kodama's second half match-winner gave Japan a 1-0 victory over Bangladesh to finish fifth at Junior Asia Cup hockey on Wednesday.

The Japanese, who drew 0-0 with Bangladesh at last meeting in the tournament in 2000, finally scored the winner through their captain off penalty corner in the 47th minute after both sides failed to break the ice in the first half.

In a 7th place playoff, China emerged victors with two back-to-back first half strikes against Singapore at Hockey Club of Pakistan. Zhongqiang Guo struck the first goal in the 25th minute, while Yixian Liu netted the second the next minute.

Do-Hsiung Huang struck twice to help Chinese Taipei overcome a spirited Sri Lanka to score a 3-2 victory to settle at 9th position. After a goal from Huang in the 5th minute, Chinese Taipei went 1-2 down when Sri Lanka captain H.S. Hettiarachchi equalised five minutes later and D.J.N. Hettiarachchi scored the second in the 42nd minute.

Chinese Taipei recovered to level the scores the next minute through Yai-Wen Shih and Huang's 60th-minute winner gave his side a close win.

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