Hangzhou, Oct 4: India defeated South Korea 5-3 in a hard-fought semifinal to enter the title clash of the men’s hockey competition at the Asian Games here on Wednesday.
The Indians, who had an easy run in the pool stages recording big wins, were made to toil by the Koreans despite taking a 3-0 lead in the first quarter.
India, who won a bronze in the last edition, will be eyeing a repeat of the 2014 Incheon Asian Games, where they won the yellow metal.
A gold in the ongoing Asian Games is of huge significance for the Tokyo Olympics bronze medallists as it will ensure their direct entry into the 2024 Paris Games.
Hardik Singh (5th minute), Mandeep Singh (11th), Lalit Kumar Upadhyay (15th), Amit Rohidas (24th) and Abhishek (54th) were the goal-getters for India, while Manjae Jung (17th, 20th, 42nd) scored a hat-trick for Korea but it went in vain.
India will take on defending champions Japan and China in the gold medal clash on Saturday.
Women face China in SF
Just two wins away from reclaiming the gold medal after a hiatus of 41 years, a confident Indian women’s hockey team will look to overcome a partisan crowd when it takes on hosts and three-time champions China in the semifinal of the Asian Games here on Wednesday.
The Indian women came close in the 2018 edition in Jakarta before settling for a silver but this time around the Savita Punia-led side is desperate to clinch the country’s second gold medal at the continental showpiece.
India’s only gold at the Asian Games came in the 1982 New Delhi edition, where women’s hockey was first introduced. Since then, they have won three bronze and two silver medals but the yellow metal has eluded them.
But this time around, the Indian women are in top form and look favourites to win the title here.
Going by world rankings, India are the top side in the competition at No.7, while China are placed in 12th position, and it would be a big letdown if they return without gold medal from here.
In terms of head-to-head records, India hold a slight advantage, having won 11 out of 22 matches against China’s nine victories while two games ended in a draw.
And, the nimble-footed Chinese would bank on home support to upset India and enter their sixth final at the Asian Games. (PTI)
Match starts: 1:30 pm IST.
