Indian men's hockey team defeat Korea 4-1 in Asian Champions Trophy semifinal, to face China in final
The Indian men's hockey team advanced to the final of the Asian Champions Trophy with a commanding 4-1 win against South Korea at the Moqi Training Base in Hulunbuir, China on Monday (September 16).
Uttam Singh gave India the lead from open play before Harmanpreet Singh doubled the tally in the second quarter. Jarmanpreet Singh added a third for India just after half-time even as Yang Jihun got one back for Korea. The Indian captain scored a second in the 45th minute to seal the deal for his side.
The Indians who are aiming to become the first team to win the Asian Champions Trophy for a record-extending fifth time will take on China in the final. The hosts stunned Pakistan in a shootout in the first semifinal.
How the India-Korea SF paanned out
Abhishek's scorching tomahawk was stopped by Kim Jaehan in the fifth minute as the Indians pressed hard in the opening minutes. The Korean goalkeeper was called into action again a minute later as Uttam Singh penetrated the striking circle but failed to make it count.
Uttam made no mistake in the 12th minute though, tapping in a probing cross that came in following a move orchestrated by Raj Kumar Pal and Araijeet Singh Hundal.
The Koreans earned the first penalty corner of the match in the 13th minute as the ball struck Amir Ali's foot in the circle. The initial drag flick was foiled by Amit Rohidas before the Koreans earned a follow-up short corner which was stopped by Sumit.
India earned their first penalty corner for an infringement on the edge of the circle. Harmanpreet Singh's initial drag flick was run down before the re-award found its way into the Korean goal to give India a 2-0 lead in the 18th minute.
Jarmanpreet Singh did well to trap an overhead cleanly and unleash a powerful slapshot to give the Indians a third goal in the 32nd minute.
Yang Jihun then scored his seventh goal of the tournament, beating Krishan Pathak with a well-directed drag flick a minute later to allow the Koreans to reduce the deficit.
A yellow card shown to goalkeeper Kim Jaehun was followed by a penalty corner awarded to India in the 45th minute, allowing Harmanpreet Singh to go level with Yang Jihun on the list of the top goalscorers of the ongoing tournament.
China stuns Pakistan to set up in Asian Champions Trophy final against India
Despite being the lowest-ranked team in the Asian Champions Trophy competition (FIH ranking 23), the Chinese men's hockey team dominated the opening half of their semifinal against Pakistan.
Much to the delight of the vociferous crowd who braved the presence of swarms of bugs in the stands, China took the lead in the 18th minute off a penalty corner
A string of penalty corners for Tahir Zaman's team in the second quarter failed to fetch an equaliser before Nadeem Ahmad levelled things up with a diving effort from open play midway through the third quarter.
Neither team could extend the lead thus resulting in a shootout where a horrendous show from Pakistan witnessed the Men in Green miss all of their chances while China converted two.
The final of the 2024 Asian Champions Trophy will be played on Tue September 17.