Hockey ACT Semis : IND 8-1 KOR | India crush South Korea; book final vs Japan

India stormed into the final of the Asian Champions Trophy 2026 with a commanding 8-1 victory over South Korea in the semi-final. The hosts maintained their unbeaten run in the tournament and will now face Japan in the title clash after the latter defeated Malaysia to book their place in the final.

Meanwhile, South Korea and Malaysia will battle for the bronze medal in the third-place playoff. GOAL! Harmanpreet Singh restores India's lead with a thunderous drag-flick from the penalty corner. The goal is briefly referred for a check over whether the trap happened beyond the line, but it should stand, as Vivek Sagar Prasad stops the ball after it crosses the line before Harmanpreet unleashes his powerful flick.

That's the India captain's 10th goal of the tournament! South Korea hit back against the run of play! Song delivers a pass from the right, and Han Sangjun gets the final touch to beat Suraj Karkera and level the scores. India will feel they could have done better to prevent the equaliser.

The hosts respond immediately, winning a penalty corner after a South Korean backstick infringement. Craig Fulton: "In high-performance sport, we need to do it all over again. We need to keep our pressure on and press well." Lim Jungbin: "It was a hard match last time against India.

We'll do our best today." India's Starting XI: Suraj Karkera, Jarmanpreet Singh, Hardik Singh, Dilpreet Singh, Harmanpreet Singh, Nilakanta Singh, Jugraj Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Sukhjeet Singh, Sanjay and Shilanand Lakra.

Substitutes: Vishnukant Singh, Amandeep Lakra, Angad Bir Singh, Aditya Lalage, Amit Rohidas and Abhishek. Harmanpreet Singh (India): The Indian captain remains the biggest threat from penalty corners. With nine goals in the tournament, his contribution could once again prove decisive.

Sukhjeet Singh (India): One of India's most consistent attacking performers, Sukhjeet has scored four goals and will look to exploit spaces in the South Korean defence. Dilpreet Singh (India): His movement and finishing ability have added another dimension to India's forward line.

He will be expected to play an important role in creating scoring opportunities. South Korea face a challenging assignment against the defending champions, particularly after suffering an eight-goal defeat in their previous encounter.

The Koreans struggled to contain India's attacking combinations and found it difficult to deal with the hosts' pace and intensity. Their defensive organisation will need significant improvement if they are to remain competitive in the semi-final.

India's biggest concern ahead of the semi-final could be the fitness of Abhishek, who reportedly picked up an ankle injury. His availability will be crucial for the hosts, given his attacking contribution throughout the competition.

Head coach Craig Fulton will also be keen to ensure that his players do not become complacent after their commanding league-stage performances. Harmanpreet Singh has led from the front, scoring nine goals to emerge as the tournament's leading scorer.

The Indian captain has been particularly effective with penalty corners, while Jugraj Singh has also contributed three goals.