Asian Champions Trophy Semifinal preview: Abhishek’s fitness in doubt as India faces Korea again in Mohali
Abhishek (R) twisted his ankle during warm up against Malaysia and both coach Craig Fulton and captain Harmanpreet Singh, while insisting that it wasn’t serious, were also unwilling to bet on him playing. | Photo Credit: Getty Images
Abhishek (R) twisted his ankle during warm up against Malaysia and both coach Craig Fulton and captain Harmanpreet Singh, while insisting that it wasn’t serious, were also unwilling to bet on him playing. | Photo Credit: Getty Images
Different city, same opponent. India blanked Korea 8-0 in its final league match of the Asian Champions Trophy on Monday and come Wednesday, the two teams will face off again, this time for a spot in the final.
Monday was the last day of action at the Olympian Surjit hockey stadium in Jalandhar. Wednesday will be the first day of action in the competition at the Olympian Balbir Singh stadium in Mohali.
From the city of one legend of the game to the other, it will also be the return of international hockey to Chandigarh after 17 years.
A lot has changed since then, the extinction of the erstwhile Indian Hockey Federation and the birth of Hockey India being one of them. If Jalandhar was the nursery that never saw international action before, the present stadium in Mohali didn’t even exist back then.
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The land it stands on was the de facto parking area for the bigger, more popular cricket stadium across the road.
It featured some games during the first iteration of the Hockey India League but Wednesday would be the first time the current venue will host a national team.
Amidst all this history, the Indian team was fidgety about the availability of Abhishek Nain for the knockout games.
The lanky forward twisted his ankle during warm up against Malaysia and both coach Craig Fulton and captain Harmanpreet Singh, while insisting that it wasn’t serious, were also unwilling to bet on him playing.
“We have to wait and see, check in with the physio. Losing a key player is not ideal but we can’t rush him,” Fulton said. “It was a twist, happens very commonly but we will see whether he is able to play the next game,” Harmanpreet added on Monday night.
Abhishek’s absence did not affect the Indian team against Korea but the team would do well to not get complacent.
Sukhjeet Singh has been excellent upfront but there will be extra pressure on Mandeep and Shilanand Lakra to step up. Aditya Lalage and Angad Bir Singh did the job well but the youngsters will need to do more.
India has barely been tested so far in its title defence, scoring 34 goals and conceding only five.
The fast, green turf in Jalandhar suited the team’s play. The semifinal in Mohali will return to familiar blue surface but barring a disaster, India will be favourite to advance. Malaysia will take on Japan in the other semifinal.
Published on Nov 03, 2026
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