New Delhi: The Indian hockey team, fresh off their bronze medal win at the Paris 2024 Olympics, continued their impressive form by securing a spot in the final of the Asian Champions Trophy. In the semi-finals held on Monday, 16 September, India convincingly defeated South Korea 4-1, booking their place in the title match against host China. This marks yet another milestone for the current champions as they inch closer to their fifth Asian Champions Trophy title.
Captain Harmanpreet Singh led from the front, scoring two crucial goals that helped seal the victory for India. Harmanpreet’s brilliance, combined with the team’s solid overall performance, ensured that they maintained their unbeaten run throughout the tournament.
The semi-final, played in Hulunabir, China, saw India dominate from the outset. Team India, coached by Craig Fulton, had won all five of their league stage matches and carried that momentum into the semi-finals. The first goal came in the 13th minute when Uttam Singh put India ahead 1-0 just before the end of the first quarter. Six minutes later, captain Harmanpreet Singh extended the lead to 2-0 with a powerful penalty corner strike in the second quarter.
India remained in control throughout the third quarter, and Jarmanpreet Singh made it 3-0 in the 32nd minute. However, South Korea responded swiftly, with Yang Jihun scoring from a penalty corner in the 33rd minute. Despite the brief resurgence from the Korean side, Harmanpreet added another goal late in the third quarter, securing India’s 4-1 victory. The fourth quarter passed without any further goals, as India comfortably advanced to the final.
India will now face host China, who edged past Pakistan in a tense penalty shootout in the other semi-final. After a 1-1 draw at the end of regular time, China triumphed 2-0 in the shootout, leaving Pakistan scoreless. The final, scheduled for Tuesday, 17 September, will be a rematch of the two sides’ league stage encounter, in which India defeated China 3-0.
With this victory, India remains poised to claim their fifth Asian Champions Trophy title and continue their post-Olympic success.
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