New Delhi: Captain Harmanpreet Singh scored a brace as India continued their unbeaten run in the Asian Champions Trophy with a 3-1 win against Korea on Thursday. Defending champions India had earlier beaten China 3-0, Japan 5-0 before hammering Malaysia 8-1 in their last contest on Tuesday. This was India’s fourth consecutive win in the ongoing event.
Indian hockey team will now play against arch-rivals Pakistan in their last league fixture on Saturday. The team led by Harmanpreet had been in fabulous form and already assured of a semifinal berth in the competition. The top four sides in the league stages will qualify for the semifinals scheduled on Monday and the final will take place on next Tuesday.
India’s early lead in first quarter
Meanwhile, India continued their terrific form, getting an early lead in first quarter. The Harmanpreet-led side scored two goals as Araijeet Singh Hundal gave them an early lead in the eighth minute. Hundal had scored a brace against Malaysia also. Skipper Harmanpreet then came into action converting two penalty corners in the 9th and 43rd minute of the contest.
Korea scored a lone goal and that came through Jihun Yang in the 30th minute from a penalty corner. The Indian started off aggressively with a brilliant strike from Hundal and continued their momentum throughout the game. Raj Kumar Pal, who was the hero of the last contest against Malaysia, earned a penalty corner which was converted by the skipper. India’s reserve goalkeeper Suraj Karkera was impressive under the bar, denying Korea on a few occasions in the second quarter.
The Koreans secured back-to-back penalty corners in the 35th minute but India defended bravely. The Indian team did not allow any chances to the Koreans thereafter as they tried penetrating a number of times but failed.
Asian Champions Trophy: Unbeaten Indian hockey team will now play against arch-rivals Pakistan in their last league fixture on Saturday. Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
