Asia Cup Hockey: India regains crown with big win, qualify for 2026 World Cup
The host adapts to the challenges thrown by Korea, switching flanks and rotating continuously in the midfield to create space and gain control
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The Indian men’s hockey team beat South Korea 4-1 in the final to lift the Asia Cup trophy and qualify for next year’s World Cup, in Bihar on Sunday (September 7, 2025). India ended an eight year wait to be crowned the continental champion, winning 4-1 against defending champion Korea in the final of the Asia Cup here on Sunday and assuring itself of a spot at the 2026 World Cup.
While the scoreline might suggest an easy win, it was anything but. Korea fought back and fought hard with India pulling ahead on the dint of individual brilliance and tactical control. It was not the kind of free-flowing game India displayed in different measures in its last two games but the team adapted to a vastly different and difficult opposition, switching flanks and rotating continuously in the midfield to keep creating space.
The massive victory against China the day before might have raised public expectations but coach Craig Fulton had insisted his boys would play the game, not the occasion, be clinical and get better in certain areas.
The team stepped up to the task, not as dominant but equally clinical.
The start was electric, Sukhjeet receiving Harmanpreet’s pass from near the dotted line and his reverse shot flying into the Korean goal 31 seconds into the game, India’s fastest goal of the competition.
Chances were created, not through brute superiority but clinical accuracy. Another aerial ball from Harmanpreet in the 28th minute, brought down perfectly by Sanjay inside the circle, saw Dilpreet make it 2-0 at half-time.
Missed chance
India could have added another but for Jugraj’s penalty stroke in the ninth minute pushed away by Jaehan Kim — deservedly named Goalkeeper-of-the-Tournament – with his stick. Post the break, Korea started pushing back, hoping to bounce back similar to how it did against Malaysia.
It also got a series of PCs, but India’s defence held firm. Shaky and erratic at the start of the tournament, the defence tightened up and the team was a lot more disciplined.
Fulton had also wanted his players to stay composed, not get carried away by a crowd baying for goal every time India had the ball, and they duly obliged, keeping their head low and mind focused on the task at hand, avoiding showboating or hurrying for the shot. It created fewer chances up front but more on-target shots.
Korea’s plan to open channels on the flanks by drawing in the Indian forwards through the middle, which worked against Malaysia, did not succeed.
The Indian midfield spread wide to cut the Koreans down and found ways to keep feeding the forwards.
A 45th- minute PC saw Harmanpreet’s shot saved but the resulting long corner ended in Dilpreet keeping the ball in play and scoring his second.
2025-09-08
By
Anushka Tripathi
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