JALANDHAR, NOV 2 (PTI): Five-time champions India maintained their unbeaten run in the Asian Champions Trophy (ACT) hockey tournament with a commanding 8-0 victory over South Korea in their final round-robin match here on Monday, finishing at the top of the standings with a perfect record.
India secured 15 points from five consecutive victories to finish ahead of Japan, Malaysia and South Korea. The hosts had earlier defeated Bangladesh 13-0, China 5-2, Japan 4-1 and Malaysia 4-2.
India will now face South Korea again in the semifinals on Wednesday when the tournament moves to Mohali for its final stage. In the other semifinal, Malaysia will take on Japan.
Dilpreet Singh scored twice in the eighth and 40th minutes, while Jugraj Singh (11th), captain Harmanpreet Singh (15th), Shilanand Lakra (33rd), Sukhjeet Singh (34th), Sanjay (36th) and Angad Bir Singh (60th) contributed one goal each.
India began aggressively and created an early opportunity through Sukhjeet Singh, whose reverse hit was saved by South Korean goalkeeper Jaehyeon Kim. However, Dilpreet opened the scoring in the eighth minute with a reverse-hit finish following a pass from Jarmanpreet Singh.
Jugraj doubled India’s advantage in the 11th minute by converting a rebound after South Korea failed to capitalise on consecutive penalty corners. Harmanpreet then made it 3-0 in the 15th minute with a powerful low flick from India’s third penalty corner.
Despite earning several penalty corners, South Korea failed to breach the Indian defence. India continued their dominance after the half-time interval, with Shilanand scoring off a rebound in the 33rd minute.
Sukhjeet extended the lead a minute later with a field goal following a well-coordinated move involving Harmanpreet and Sanjay. Sanjay added another goal in the 36th minute after a good attacking build-up.
Dilpreet completed his brace in the 40th minute with a deflection off Sanjay’s strike, following an aerial pass from Harmanpreet.
India maintained their attacking pressure throughout the final quarter, with Angad Bir Singh rounding off the emphatic 8-0 victory through a reverse-hit field goal in the 60th minute.
South Korea earned two late penalty corners just before the final hooter but failed to convert either opportunity.
With five wins from five matches, India will enter the semifinals as the tournament’s top-ranked team and remain firmly on course to defend their title.
