Asian Champions Trophy 2026: Unbeaten India outplays Korea 8-0

The two teams will now face-off again in a day’s time in the semifinals while Malaysia and Japan, who drew 1-1 earlier in the day, will play the other semifinal.  | Photo Credit: Hockey India/X

Eight penalty corners, eight goals, seven different scorers, 60 percent possession and complete domination. The Indian men’s hockey team finished the league stage of the Asian Champions Trophy the way it began, thrashing Korea 8-0 on Monday to remain unbeaten in the competition.

Despite the absence of two key players – Hardik Singh rested ahead of the knockout games as the campaign now moves to Mohali and Abhishek’s status still uncertain after twisting his ankle during warm-up ahead of Sunday’s match – there was little to bother the host. India began aggressively, kept the pace up and, barring the occasional push back from Korea in the first half, did not allow the opposition any space.

Dilpreet Singh’s began the goalfest with a whacking reverse into the net in the eighth minute and Angad Bir Singh rounded it off seconds from full time, running solo across the length of the field and slotting the ball in on the run. In between, India not only gave a masterclass in game control but also answered questions on dropping intensity, specially when playing back-to-back matches.

The forwards had a field day, running past the Korean defence for fun even as the Indian defence stood strong. There wasn’t much for it to do except for a series of four penalty corners for Korea in the second quarter, the only period when India went goalless and Korea showed glimpses of a fightback. It wasn’t to be – those were their only four shots at goal to India’s 19 attempts.

The two teams will now face-off again in a day’s time in the semifinals while Malaysia and Japan, who drew 1-1 earlier in the day, will play the other semifinal. Japan overcame a missed penalty stroke and a the form book to upset Asian Games runner-up Malaysia 2-1 and climb to second spot on the table. Jun Watanabe missed in the seventh minute and Malaysia, quick on the counter, got the lead through Abu Kamal Azrai. But Japan kept coming hard and Kentaro Fukuda was on the spot to strike twice, both six minutes before the whistle either side of half time.

The scores:

China 1 (Chen Benhai 2pc) drew with Bangladesh 1 (Ashraful Islam 38ps); Japan 2 (Kentaro Fukuda 24, 54) bt Malaysia 1 (Abu Kamal Azrai 10); India 8 (Dilpreet Singh 8, 40, Jugraj Singh 11pc, Harmanpreet Singh 15pc, Shilanand Lakra 33pc, Sukhjeet Singh 34, Sanjay 36, Angad Bir Singh 60) bt Korea 0.