Asian Champions Trophy 2024: Harmanpreet Singh Nets 200th Goal as India Pass South Korean Test to Extend Dominant Run
Indian men’s hockey team skipper Harmanpreet Singh (AP)
Powered by skipper Harmanpreet Singh’s brace, India extended their win streak to four wins on the trot by beating South Korea 3-1. They will now look ahead at the highly anticipated clash against Pakistan.
India managed to make it four wins in as many games as they were tested against a resilient South Korea unit during the Asian Champions Trophy 2024 clash that took place at the Moqi Training Base in China on Thursday.
Team India began on a flyer scoring two goals in the first quarter. Araijeet Singh opened the scoring in the seventh minute thanks to a timely overload on the right flank and the quick switch where Araijeet netted the goal to open India’s tally for the match.
Promptly after scoring, India also received a penalty corner which Harmanpreet Singh netted in to bring up his 200th career goal and India got two goals in quick time.
However, South Korea looked to slowly find their way back into the game. In the final seconds of the second quarter, Ji Hun Yang went in during the penalty corner which got a lucky deflection off Manpreet Singh to reduce Korea’s deficit by half.
The South Korean side then looked to establish control as other teams have struggled to do so.
India had the chance to extend their lead thanks to a penalty corner in the 40th minute but Vivek Sagar Prasad failed to convert it due to a poor execution.
Harmanpreet Singh looked to put in his passes from deep but India looked far worse in comparison to their previous fixtures in the attacking front as South Korea continued to fight back in the contest.
Sukhjeet Singh won India a penalty corner in the 43rd minute which was referred by the Korean side. Harmanpreet Singh netted the goal when India needed it the most as he extended his career goals tally to 201 at the final stretch of the third quarter to extend the gap against South Korea.
South Korea though were unrelenting, as they pushed India till the very end, shifting the momentum by claiming more possession and threatening the Indian defense with Penalty Corners and some quick shots. But, the Indian defenders held their own, to play it safe whilst on the ball and ensured that India secured their fourth consecurtive win of the tournament.
