Asian Champions Trophy: India secures massive win
In their final league match of the Hero Asian Champions Trophy, India defeated the South Korean team by eight goals. Due to this stellar result, the host team finished at the top of the points table and both teams will face each other again in the semi-finals.
During the match played inside the Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar, Indian hockey players displayed brilliant gameplay to defeat the South Korean team by a margin of 8-0. With this success, the host team finished the league stage at the top.
In this match, Dilpreet Singh scored two goals against the opposing team. Additionally, team captain Harmanpreet Singh, Jugraj Singh, Sanjay, Sukhjit Singh, Angad Bir Singh, and Shilanand Lakra also put the ball into the net once each.
At the start of the game, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and renowned Dutch drag-flicker Floris Jan Bovelander were present on the field, who formally introduced themselves to the members of both teams just before the match.
At the end of the pool stage, India secured the top spot with a total of 15 points. On the other hand, Japan secured 10 points and remained in second place, while Malaysia with 9 points was third and the South Korean team with 6 points was in fourth place.
In the last four teams round, India is now scheduled to face South Korea, while Japan and Malaysia will face each other in the second semi-final. These matches will be held on November 4 at the Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium in Mohali, where the title clash will take place on November 5.
During other matches of the day, Japan defeated Malaysia by a margin of 2-1. For Malaysia, Abu Kamal Azrai scored a goal in the 10th minute, but Kentaro Fukuda played brilliantly in the 24th and 54th minutes to give his team two goals and lead them to victory.
Earlier, the match played between China and Bangladesh ended in a 1-1 draw. Chinese player Benhai Chen put the team ahead through a penalty corner in the very second minute, but in the 38th minute, Bangladeshi captain Ashraful Islam equalized the match through a penalty stroke. Both these teams had already been eliminated.
Key developments
- India achieved a massive 8-0 victory against South Korea
- Indian hockey team claimed the first position in the pool stage with 15 points
- Dilpreet Singh scored two goals, while six other teammates scored one goal each
- India will face Korea again in the semi-final in Mohali on November 4
