India dethrone Korea to wear Asian crown, qualify for World Cup

Rajgir: The stage was set with one last hurdle beyond which awaited the Asia Cup trophy and, more importantly, a World Cup spot as a big rewards. 

Favourites and top team India's chase to grab hold of both ended successfully after scoring a 4-1 win over Korea in Rajgir on Sunday.

Captain Harmanpreet Singh’s deceptive stick work got the party started for the hosts in the very first minute (29th second to be precise) of the game. Beating three Korean players on the left flank, Harmanpreet provided the ball to Sukhjeet Singh who was quick in trapping and positioning it before reverse slapping the ball diagonally into the top right corner of the net. 

With dominance attested, the lone blemish in the first quarter came when Jugraj Singh hit a penalty stroke straight to the stretched right hand of Korean goalkeeper Jaehan Kim to fumble the easiest of opportunities. 

Harmanpreet set into motion another goal-scoring cycle. The 29-year-old skipper’s scoop to Sanjay, on the right inside the D, was in-turn fed to Dilpreet Singh who slotted in the second goal in the 28th minute. 

At halftime, India led 2-0 with as many as 11 circle penetrations against Korea’s dismal two. 

In the hunt for goals since the opening match in this tournament, 25-year-old Dilpreet went from one missed chance to another. His first goal in the third game against Kazakhstan perhaps injected confidence he was in search of. Relentless in his approach, the forward added his second goal of the night, this time a simple tap in, in the 45th minute to help India climb to 3-0 at the end of the third quarter. 

Defender Amit Rohidas converted a penalty corner in the 50th minute to add his name to the scoresheet. An out-of-breath Korea managed to find a consolation goal through attacker Dain Son’s flick in the 51st minute. But by then, the Indians’ aggression, speed and smart play was too hot to handle for the defending champions. 

India - lifting the continental championships for the fourth time after 2003, 2007 and 2017 - booked their ticket to the Netherlands and Belgium for the World Cup to be held between August 14-30 in 2026. 

Malaysia third

World No. 12 Malaysia put away the heartbreak of missing a final spot to regroup and turn out on Sunday to score a 4-1 win against China to finish third on the podium. 

Striker Akhimullah Anuar, after going goalless against India and Korea in the Super 4s, added two more goals to his personal tally to become the top-scorer of the tournament with 12. Norsyafiq Sumantri (8th) netted the opening goal while Syed Cholan added the fourth in the dying moments. 

Result: Final: India: 4 (Sukhjeet Singh 1st, Dilpreet Singh 28th, 45th, Amit Rohidas 50th) bt Korea: 1 (Dain Son 51st).  

Third place: Malaysia: 4 (Norsyafiq Sumantri 8th, Akhimullah Anuar 36th, 50th, Syed Cholan 59th) bt China: 1 (Jiesheng Gao 54th).  

5-8 placings: Japan: 6 (Koji Yamasaki 9th, Ryosuke Shinohara 15th, 38th, 56th, Ken Nagayoshi 36th, Seren Tanaka 50th) bt Bangladesh: 1 (Amirul Islam 55th).