India secured their place in the semifinals of the Asian Champions Trophy after a commanding 3-1 victory over Korea Republic, marking their fourth straight win in the tournament. The defending champions were led by captain Harmanpreet Singh, whose brace, along with a strong team performance, pushed them past a determined Korean side.
Continuing their trend of fast starts, India found the back of the net early in the first quarter. In the sixth minute, young forward Araijeet Singh Hundal opened the scoring with a powerful strike from the edge of the D. Just a minute later, captain Harmanpreet Singh delivered a signature dragflick off a penalty corner to double the lead and reach a personal milestone of 200 goals for the national team.
India’s early dominance gave way to a more challenging second quarter, where Korea mounted a strong response. The Korean side, known for their tactical discipline, applied pressure and got their reward just before half-time. Yang Ju-Hyin’s dragflick, which deflected off Indian defender Manpreet Singh, flew past goalkeeper Suraj Karkera, narrowing India’s lead to 2-1.
Despite this setback, Karkera put in an outstanding performance, pulling off a series of crucial saves, particularly in the fourth quarter. His efforts earned him the Player of the Match award, as he kept the Korean attackers at bay and ensured India stayed in control of the contest.
India regained their composure after the break, creating several scoring opportunities through Sukhjeet Singh and Abhishek. While they struggled to convert those chances into field goals, Harmanpreet once again showcased his penalty corner prowess. In the final minute of the third quarter, his second dragflick of the night flew past the Korean goalkeeper, sealing the 3-1 victory.
This win not only secured India’s place in the semifinals but also guaranteed them the top spot in the table, regardless of the outcome of their final group-stage match. India will face arch-rivals Pakistan next, but with their position secured, the match is now a dead rubber for Craig Fulton’s side. However, the game will still be an important opportunity for India to tighten up some areas, particularly their lapses in the second quarter against Korea.
Looking ahead to the semifinals, India will need to maintain their momentum and address any inconsistencies if they are to defend their title. Their solid performances so far, combined with the leadership of Harmanpreet and the heroics of goalkeeper Karkera, have made them the team to beat in the tournament. However, coach Craig Fulton will likely use the Pakistan game to fine-tune the squad and ensure they are in peak form for the knockout stages.
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