Harmanpreet Singh Shines as India Defeats Korea
In a thrilling match at the Hero Asian Champions Trophy, India recorded its fourth straight win by defeating Korea 3-1. Indian captain Harmanpreet Singh led from the front, scoring twice to help his team maintain its dominant form in the tournament. This victory came after India’s earlier triumphs over China (3-0), Japan (5-0), and Malaysia (8-1), solidifying their place in the semi-finals. India will now face Pakistan in their last league match on Saturday.
India Takes Early Lead with Two Quick Goals
India began the match on an aggressive note, scoring two goals in the first quarter. Arijit Singh Hundal continued his fine form, netting the first goal in the 8th minute after receiving a precise pass from Sukhjeet Singh. Just a minute later, India earned a penalty corner, and captain Harmanpreet Singh, known for his drag-flicking skills, converted it successfully to give India a 2-0 lead.
Korea’s Response and India’s Strong Defense
Korea, determined to make a comeback, pushed hard in the second quarter. Despite several attempts, India’s defense, led by reserve goalkeeper Suraj Karkera, remained resilient. However, in the 30th minute, Korea’s Jihun Yang managed to break through, scoring on a penalty corner to make it 2-1. Korea continued to press forward, earning two more penalty corners in the 35th minute, but India’s defense held strong, denying them any further success.
Harmanpreet’s Second Goal Secures India’s Victory
In the 43rd minute, Harmanpreet Singh once again proved his worth, scoring another goal from a penalty corner to extend India’s lead to 3-1. Although Korea made attempts in the final quarter, India’s defense remained tight, ensuring they held onto their two-goal advantage until the final whistle.
India Heads to Semi-Finals
With this victory, India’s unbeaten run in the tournament continues. Having already secured a spot in the semi-finals, India will now turn its attention to its highly anticipated clash with Pakistan in the final group stage match on Saturday.
