India vs Korea Asia Cup 2025 Men's Hockey Final Match Live Scorecard Updates
22:12 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: INDIA WIN MEN'S ASIA CUPAsia Cup champions: CHECKWorld Cup: QUALIFIEDIt's been a tough few weeks for Craig Fulton's side, with the run of defeats in Europe during Pro League. But they achieve this year's major target. There is work to be done, but a fine finish in Rajgir.Thanks for joining us! Stay tuned for more from Mihir Vasavda.21:52 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: INDIA WIN MEN'S ASIA CUPFormer India captain Viren Rasquinha on X:Congrats to the Indian Hockey Team for winning the Asia Cup 2025. Top performance today to beat Korea 4-1 in the final. India got better and better as the tournament progressed & totally deserved the dominant win tonight. Best thing - automatic qualification for the Men’s Hockey World 2026. Our attacking play was great today with 4 goals vs Korea in the final. But even better was the team defence. Every player sprinting back to defend the moment we lost the ball. Disciplined deep half-court press whenever India were down to 10 men. It’s the little things that matter.21:26 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: INDIA WIN MEN'S ASIA CUPFULL TIME STATS: India dominant in every metric today... (even in the cards won, for good measure!)21:22 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: INDIA WIN MEN'S ASIA CUPPLAYER OF THE FINAL: Dilpreet SinghAt one stage during the goal-fest against Kazakhstan, Dilpreet Singh looked like he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders as chances were missed. In the final today, he has had an absolute stormer!21:20 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: IND BEAT KOR 4-1Korea are devastated but that was one heck of a run to the final after a slow start. India themselves too made a slow start to the tournament, weren't at their best early on, but peaked as the tournament went on and finished with three big wins on the trot.4-1 vs Malaysia.7-0 vs China.4-1 vs Korea.21:18 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: IND 4-1 KOR in Q4INDIA RECLAIM THE ASIA CUP!India are back to being crowned, deservingly, the best team of Asia. On paper, there was little about that, having won bronze in Tokyo and Paris at the Olympics. But this was still a mark to be ticked. And they do it in style.21:15 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: IND 4-1 KOR in Q4The last minute in Rajgir and India are holding possession. This is coming to a close very soon. Korea's brief fightback has been doused without much fuss.21:13 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: IND 4-1 KOR in Q4AMIT ROHIDAS! He conceded the PC but he makes amends with what he does best. The first-rusher of some pedigree! Reads the Korean play perfectly, goes to the 2nd battery where Yang Jihun is lined up. And the rush is perfect. Wins the ball back for danger too.21:12 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: IND 4-1 KOR in Q4With just under four minutes to go, Korea come forward down the left flank and win a PC. Amit with a stick check on Rim Jinkang. Can Korea find another goal here to make things interesting?21:10 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: IND 4-1 KOR in Q4That is a goal.... in American football. Amit Rohidas with a lovely drilled pass from defence to offence. Abhishek is found with a lot of space to work with, he goes into the circle and unleashes the reverse hit that flies high into the night sky.21:07 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: IND 4-1 KOR in Q4Korea getting a bit desperate to keep their brief mometum going and use their referral in hope more than anything. The ball looped over from Jarman's stick but this time there is no element of danger.Just over 7 minutes to go as India head towards reclaiming the Asia Cup.21:06 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: IND 4-1 KOR in Q4GOAL KOREA! And there goes the Indian clean sheet after a really well-worked PC variation. The Korean captain injects the ball, Yang Jihun doesn't go for the drag flick but instead goes back to the captain who cuts the ball back. Dain Son touches the ball into the goal. Raj Kumar Pal gets a green card just before that phase of play.Surely this is not another miraculous Korean comeback?21:04 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: IND 4-0 KOR in Q4GOALLLLLL INDIA! Amit Rohidas! India go for a variation from the set piece, Harmanpreet sells a dummy. The ball goes to Amit in the 2nd battery, who fires in a low hit on goal, not a drag flick. The angle on the strike beats Kim Jaehan. Amit goes on a celebratory run.21:02 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: IND 3-0 KOR in Q4Manpreet to Sumit as India switch the play from right to left. Sumit's pass it controlled well by Dilpreet, who can't do any wrong at the moment. India win the PC.20:59 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: IND 3-0 KOR in Q4Chance India! First Sukhjeet and Abhishek nearly combine for a flair-filled goal but eventually overelaborate things. Korea look to counter, then Harmanpreet Singh with a brilliant tackle and goes forward smoothly. A pass into the circle is drilled along the ground, but Mandeep is unable to get the deflection. That would have been some goal.20:56 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: IND 3-0 KOR in Q4The final quarter of the tournament in Rajgir. Kora made a sensational comeback last night against Malaysia from 1-3 down to win 4-3. But against India, it is not going to be easy. We have to wonder too if that comeback last night took too much out of Korea.20:55 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: IND 3-0 KOR in Q3GOALLLLLLL, INDIA! Dilpreet Singh scores his 2nd and he is delighted with this. Harmanpreet has a free out at the edge of Korea's defensive third. He hits a cute little pass (not the drilled long ones, we have seen enough of those gems!) to Raj Kumar Pal. Who in turn does well to play a quick pass to Dilpreet just ahead of him, and the forward just touches the ball through Kim Jaehan.Just at the end of Q3, India have scored their third.20:53 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: IND 2-0 KOR in Q3First-rusher does the job. Harmanpreet's flick is defended well.20:51 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: IND 2-0 KOR in Q3INDIA HAVE A PENALTY CORNER: It's been a while. Hardik with a nice pass into the circle, lifting the ball to Abhishek. The forward smashes a shot on goal on the turn and finds a Korean foot.20:50 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: IND 2-0 KOR in Q3India have lost their referral: Sanjay dribbles forward and finds a Korean foot... only it was outside the circle. India got that one wrong.20:47 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: IND 2-0 KOR in Q3ANOTHER PC KOREA: The ball is not trapped properly at the edge of the circle, but they do well to recycle it. And win another PC. This time the ball is struck well but India defend it well enough. And there is a counterattack on here! But Sukhjeet should have done better. There was a numerical advantage there but the forward couldnt make the most of it.20:45 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: IND 2-0 KOR in Q3PENALTY CORNER FOR KOREA! Rim Jinkang fires in a hard-hit low cross from the right flank, Jarmanpreet puts his stick out and the ball loops over, deemed to be danger. Korea fist pumping. A chance for them to reduce the deficit.20:43 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: IND 2-0 KOR in Q3VIVEK SAGAR PRASAD: It seems like Korea have found some rhythm going. Choi Chankyu with a sensational dribble into the circle down the right flank, beats a couple of closely marking defenders. He finds his teammate in front of goal who tries to sweep the ball in. But Vivek intercepts right in front of Pathak and clears the danger. That is wonderful defensive work from the Indian midfielder who has quietly had a very good tournament.20:39 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: IND 2-0 KOR in Q3KIM JAEHAN SAVES! If not for him, India would be home and dry by this point. Saved a Penalty Stroke earlier in the match and now after Sanjay finds Abhishek with a pass into the circle, the forward does superbly to fire in a shot on goal on the turn. But Kim stretches his foot and kicks the ball away. India have the ball in the back of the net shortly after but the whistle had gone for a foul before that.20:36 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: IND 2-0 KOR in Q3Looks like Rajinder has won a Penalty Corner but for the second time in the night that Korea use their review and get it overturned.20:35 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: IND 2-0 KOR in Q3HERE WE GO. Second half underway.Oh good run! Park Cheoleon drives through the heart of the Indian defence to enter the circle but he then has a bad touch that takes the ball out of the circle and then Vivek does well to win a foul. Good 1v1 defending that.20:32 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: IND 2-0 KOR AT HALF TIMEHALF TIME STATS: India's half by all metrics. 10 circle entries compared to Korea's 2 (feels like there were more, but oh well). No shots on goal for Korea. Pathak & Karkera haven't really been tested.20:28 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: IND 2-0 KOR AT HALF TIMEThis was coach Craig Fulton's reaction after Sukhjeet's opening game in the first minute, he enjoyed that!20:25 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: IND 2-0 KOR AT HALF TIMEA lovely image from Mihir Vasavda, from his vantage point in Rajgir: Just to get a sense of crazy man marking that Korea have tried to employ.20:24 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: IND 2-0 KOR AT HALF TIMEGreen card for Sanjay just as the second quarter comes to a close. So he will serve a suspention either side of the half.End of the first half: India 2-0 Korea20:23 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: IND 2-0 KOR IN Q2GOALLLLLL INDIA! Harmanpreet Singh, man! What an aerial pass from left to right for creating the window for India's 2nd goal. Harman to Sanjay, Sanjay to Dilpreet. Absolutely stunning. Sanjay did well to control the ball on the bounce and Dilrpeet with a calm finish.As Mihir wrote yesterday: Harmanpreet Singh is never in a rush; it doesn’t matter if India are chasing the game or running away with it. He moves at 0.75x speed in a sport that moves at 1.25x. Eyes darting in all directions, shepherding the ball with slow, small steps and minimalistic movements. In a fast-moving sport, he doesn’t mind an occasional pause. It is by design. In reality, he’s more of a quarterback disguised as a sweeper. Casually catapulting 60-yard passes to the forwards, bypassing the midfield and launching India’s attacks.20:19 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: IND 1-0 KOR IN Q2Another communication breakdown. A good move from India to find Sukhjeet at the edge of the circle. Lovely crossfield from Sumit to set that up. But Sukhjeet misses his pass to Dilpreeet. Far too much pace on that one.20:18 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: IND 1-0 KOR IN Q2India employing the half-court press when Korea have the ball. Rajindra tries to win the ball back at the halfway line but is deemed to have fouled the Korean player. Korea have a circle entry down the left but Abhishek is back helping out.20:16 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: IND 1-0 KOR IN Q2It's all a bit disjoint at the moment. India with all the attacking pressure but the final pass is not quite there. Plenty of mishit passes into the circle. But Korea too are not making the most of the chances to counter. They don't really have an outlet at the moment.Just over 5 mins left in the half.20:13 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: IND 1-0 KOR IN Q2As Mihir Vasavda has written last night, Harmanpreet slows the game down to the pace he wants at times. He did that here but his long pass is intercepted and it is a counterattack chance for Korea, but doesn't come to much eventually.It's not quite been all high intensity at the mnoment from either side.20:10 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: IND 1-0 KOR IN Q2REVIEW IS GOOD: So when Rajinder tried to lift the ball to use 3-D skills to come into the circle, the play is deemed to be dangerous. Good review in the end.20:10 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: IND 1-0 KOR IN Q2PENALTY CORNER FOR INDIA: The first of the night... or is it? Rajinder Singh does superbly down the left flank, comes from the sideline, dodges a few defenders down the byline and then cuts into the circle and finds the foot of a defender.But the Koreans have reviewed this for danger.20:08 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: IND 1-0 KOR IN Q2Green card: It's not been the most memorable nights so far for Jugraj Singh, India's match-winner in the last continental competition at the Asia Champions Trophy final. The man who scored the winner against China that night has so far misses a penalty stroke and is now given a green card for a 2-minute suspension.20:04 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: IND 1-0 KOR IN Q2End of Q1: India 1-0 KoreaA stunning goal from Sukhjeet in the opening minute of the match gives India the early lead in Rajgir. India should have been 2-0 up but Jugraj misses a penalty stroke.20:02 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: IND 1-0 KOR IN Q1CHANCE INDIA! Hardik releases Sukhjeet down the middle, who dribbles forward with a couple of shoulder feints. He then finds Abhishek who perhaps had too much time on his hands. Took his time but ended up mishitting the pass into the middle.A couple more attacking moves from India, but the opening quarter comes to a close.20:00 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: IND 1-0 KOR IN Q1CHANCE INDIA! Vivek with a lovely long pass along the ground from defence to the other end of the pitch, Raj Kumar Pal controls it brilliantly, dribbles into the circle and finds Abhishek. The forward tries to hit a backhand at goal but it is wide. He could have hit the target there.19:58 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: IND 1-0 KOR IN Q1KIM JAEHAN SAVES! The Korean goalkeeper has been sensational in Rajgir and he pulls off a huge save. Jugraj takes this stroke, not Harmanpreet (who had missed a stroke against China if we recall right). The shot is towards Kim's right and he has guessed it and puts the hand out in time.It remains 1-0 to India.19:57 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: IND 1-0 KOR IN Q1PENALTY STROKE FOR INDIA! Rajinder does superbly down the right byline, finds Dilpreet in the circle, who cuts the ball back to Mandeep at the far post. It seemed destined to be a goal but a Korean defender is deemed to have stick checked Mandeep with an open goal at stake. So it's a stroke.19:55 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: IND 1-0 KOR IN Q1Mandeep does well down the left to hold possession and release Jugraj to fire in an aerial. Shortly after Vivek nearly sets up Dilpreet for a shot on goal, but it saved.19:52 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: IND 1-0 KOR IN Q1Sukhjeet's early goal has settled the Indians into a good rhythm. Harmanpreet wins the ball back in defence, goes on a mazy dribble down the middle, sends a good pass to Shilanand who is deemed to have fouled Kim Jaehan.Down the other end, the first look at goal for Korea but the pass is from outside the circle and into the goal, no Korean touch in between, so won't count.19:47 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: IND 1-0 KOR IN Q1GOALLLLLLL INDIA! WHAT A START!! WHAT A GOAL!Is that the goal of the tournament? In the first minute, a stunning goal from Sukhjeet Singh. Harmanpreet Singh has the ball down the left flank, with a lovely drop of the shoulder he beats one defender, moves forward and plays a ball to Sukhjeet who rifles home a stunning reverse hit at goal that flies past Kim Jaehan.STUNNING. India 1-0, Sukhjeet.19:45 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: All setIt's time. India, Asia's best. Korea, Asia Cup defending champions. World Cup ticket at stake.19:34 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: PRE MATCH CHATCraig Fulton: It is a bit more about composure in front of goal, we created chances (in the last match against Korea). It's a great occasion here, but it is about playing the match and not the occasion. We need to go quarter by quarter.Korea's Min Taeseok says (through a translator) that considering that India are one of the strongest teams, they are just focussing on their own strengths and how they can approach the game with defensive solidity and 1v1 skills and speed.19:28 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: India's near-perfect matchIndia dominated China to win 7-0 in their final Super 4s match, and sealed their place in the title clash of the men’s Asia Cup in Rajgir on Sunday in some style. India have blown hot and cold in the tournament so far, which is a qualifier for next year’s Hockey World Cup, but they put together the perfect match finally to assert their status as the favourites. In the first half, they got a 3-0 lead with goals from Shilanand Lakra, Dilpreet Singh and Mandeep Singh. In the second half, Raj Kumar Pal, Sukhjeet Singh and Abhishek (x2) completed the rout.Read more about India’s win, orchestrated by Harmanpreet Singh, here, by Mihir Vasavda from Rajgir.19:19 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: When India met Korea earlier...Just when it looked like India would not find the equaliser, Harmanpreet played a diagonal pass inside the D. It rolled past a crowded circle towards Mandeep at the far post. The forward controlled the ball with the first touch and then tapped it past the goalkeeper to level the scores. India pushed forward in their hunt for the winner but it never came. And just like that, a tournament that many thought would be a foregone conclusion with India triumphing, was suddenly thrown open.But, it is worth adding, India found their groove after that match (and after a really ordinary Q1 against Malaysia in the next match). For the last 7 quarters they have played, they look to have gotten their rhythm going. Can they continue that tonight?19:18 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: An important update from the groundMihir Vasavda confirms India will be wearing their white kit with the saffron trim. Not the blue. It is such a relief when India play in whites on the blue turf, because the blue-on-blue is so hard to watch! It's a pet peeve for us at the Express Sports desk.19:16 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: When India met Korea earlier...Earlier this year, the team’s European leg of the Pro League was marked by a spate of individual errors that resulted in the team losing seven out of the eight matches. It was more of the same against South Korea. In the 12th minute, Jugraj Singh was found guilty of intentionally pushing Seyong Oh in front of the Indian goal. The Koreans were awarded a penalty stroke, which Jihun Yang converted without much fuss. At that moment, South Korea were a transformed team. If, before the start, the crowd had to sit under a lightning night sky of Rajgir, the players on the field were now facing the lightning-fast Koreans. The defending champions played like one, and surprised India with the speed on their counterattacks. Two minutes after equalising, India conceded a penalty corner after Mandeep Singh — who was tracking back in an attempt to help his defence — deliberately put the ball out of play. Amit Rohidas was uncharacteristically slow to rush towards Sunghyun Baek and close him down, and the drag-flicker pushed the ball between the Indian defender’s legs and beat goalkeeper Krishan Pathak’s outstretched left leg.By Mihir Vasavda19:14 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: Watch out for...Korea's goalkeeper Kim Jaehan is perhaps in the running for the best goalkeeper of the tournament. He has been sensational between the posts for the defending champs, making numerous crucial saves. He was the player of the match when India played Korea in the Super 4s. And he almost single-handedly kept Korea in the match late against Malaysia, when they were trying to hold on for a 4-3 win.19:12 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: Confirmation of the starting lineups for both sidesInterestingly, Manpreet Singh again starts on the bench. Of course, the starting XIs don't mean much in hockey these days because of how often the rolling subs come in.19:08 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: For Japan, journey to Rajgir is also spiritual questUpon learning that Rajgir would host the Hockey Asia Cup, Japanese captain Raiki Fujishima researched the unfamiliar city and was surprised by what he found. He discovered that for over fifty years, Japanese pilgrims have been traveling to the town, which is renowned for its ancient ruins and Buddhist temples. This revelation transformed the planned sports tour into a spiritual journey for him and his teammates, as they realized their visit to India's Hockey Asia Cup was also a trip to a place deeply significant to their own culture and history. (Read more from Mihir Vasavda)18:58 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: When India met Korea in Super 4sHardik Singh’s wondergoal the silver-lining in a draw marked by wasted chances for IndiaCraig Fulton disappeared into the dressing room furiously wiping his tactics board blank. Nothing, after all, that unfolded in the first half made any sense. India’s defenders were pushing forward, trying, in vain, to score. The forwards were falling back, playing a part in conceding goals rather than preventing. As the attackers and back line failed miserably in their primary duties, a midfielder, who rarely features on the scoresheet, sprang out of nowhere to score a wonder goal. This can’t have been the India coach’s gameplan, surely?It was that kind of a night of the Asia Cup, though. A downpour so heavy that the hockey field, normally designed to soak it all, was waterlogged; and a game that is rarely stopped because of rain getting suspended; of a push-back delayed by 53 minutes and the hosts needing another 45 minutes to show up.By Mihir Vasavda18:56 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: THIRD-PLACE MATCHAnd Malaysia finish 3rd. Arguably the best team of the first few days, their tournament somewhat derailed towards the end. But they recover from that stunning heartbreak on Saturday to beat China comfortably in the bronze medal match.18:55 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: When India met Korea in Super 4sIndia and Korea played out a 2-2 draw in their opening Super 4s game. Hardik Singh (8') and Mandeep Singh (53') were the goalscorers for India while Jihun Yang (12') and Hyeonhong Kim (14') scored for Korea. The match began after a slight delay due to rain as India made a bright start in the wet conditions with a number of circle entries and positive attacks on goal. They even won two early Penalty Corners in the second and seventh minute respectively however, failed to threaten the keeper. In the eighth minute, Sukhjeet Singh won the ball in the midfield and played it to Hardik Singh (8') who made an incredible solo run down the middle, beating the Korean backline and ending his move with a simple finish past the goalkeeper to open the scoring. But India were left disappointed with the rest of the match, and had to salvage a draw with a late Mandeep goal.18:50 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: Meanwhile in HangzhouNavneet Kaur’s late, late goal rescues draw for India against Japan in a thriller where goalkeepers shineIn her 50th appearance for India, and finally getting to be the No 1 goalkeeper for the Indian women’s hockey team with Savita Punia sidelined, Bichu Devi Kharibam was largely a spectator in Hangzhou. She had scarce involvement in the match either side of Japan’s opening goal in the 10th minute. But when the Cherry Blossoms bloomed in the final quarter, springing to life in the last five minutes, Bichu had to make two massive saves. Suddenly, her evening lit up. And eventually, she was beaten for the second time in the 58th minute by a penalty stroke that saw India go behind 1-2, after dominating possession and carrying significant attacking threat right through the match. A defeat would have been harsh, but a familiar story of missed chances and conceding avoidable goals.But with 40 seconds left to go on the clock, India upped the ante once more. A penalty corner was won and thwarted, but somehow they stole the back, drove forward to win another one, with milliseconds left on the clock. The whistle from the referee went up just before the final hooter did, so India had the time to take another shot at goal, a ninth PC on the night. Up stepped vice captain Navneet Kaur and fired home a late, late equaliser to rescue a point for India in a thrilling Pool B match against Japan at the Asia Cup. Rutuja Dadaso Pisal (30’) had scored at the stroke of half-time for India’s first equaliser. Meanwhile, for Japan, the goals came in the form of Hiroka Murayama (10’) and Chiko Fujibayashi (58’).18:47 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: More on India's baseline attacking ploy...Entering from the baseline gives the attacker a two-pronged advantage in a one-on-one situation inside the D. One, he gets the complete view of the circle that helps in scanning the position of his teammates. And two, the defender — who has his back to the goal — is on his backhand, which is a position of disadvantage.“So I can either pass the ball square, cut back or find a foot. Entering from the baseline helps us open up with multiple options,” Jarmanpreet Singh, the right-back who makes endless runs up and down the wing, says.The baseline attacks help them set up attacks from the nine-yard zone between the penalty spot and goal. “It’s one of the set-ups we have been working on. When we enter the 9 yards from the baseline, it gives us more open chances to score a goal,” Jarmanpreet adds. “And if we don’t get a clear shot, then we try to earn a penalty corner.”By Mihir Vasavda18:38 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: India beat China 7-0India's baseline attacksHarmanpreet’s strength to make such long passes (and Hardik Singh too) has helped India build additional dimensions to their game. The aerial passes help the team to balance its counter-attacking instincts. At the same time, it allows the players to launch baseline attacks. It’s a tactic India have employed frequently post-Paris Olympics. In their analysis of the matches, India’s coaching staff noticed the increasing trend of teams playing a low defensive block against India, much like the opponents they have encountered at the Asia Cup.It meant the forwards had to rely on a different skill than just being able to turn from the top of the D and shoot. They had to get more ruthless inside the nine-yard zone from the goal to the penalty spot. The most efficient way of entering that zone has been to run behind the defences and attack from the baseline.By Mihir Vasavda18:36 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: THIRD-PLACE MATCHAnwar Akhimullah has strengthened his grip on the top spot of the goalscorers chart. He has scored twice in Malaysia's 3-0 third-place match.18:26 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: THIRD-PLACE MATCHMalaysia are leading 2-0 in the fourth quarter in the bronze medal match against China.18:21 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: SUPER 4sHere's how the Super 4s stage ended.18:17 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: India beat China 7-0ICYMI, From hockey historian K Arumugam on X: Harmanpreet’s India equals a 43- year old record of scoring 7-0 against China, which Surjit Singh led India did in the first Asia Cup in 1982 at Karachi. Six scorers amassed this massive score.18:11 (IST) 7 Sep 2025India vs Korea, Asia Cup hockey FINAL LIVE: India beat China 7-0Here's a lovely piece to start you off with...Harmanpreet Singh is never in a rush; it doesn’t matter if India are chasing the game or running away with it. He moves at 0.75x speed in a sport that moves at 1.25x. Eyes darting in all directions, shepherding the ball with slow, small steps and minimalistic movements. In a fast-moving sport, he doesn’t mind an occasional pause. It is by design. In reality, he’s more of a quarterback disguised as a sweeper. Casually catapulting 60-yard passes to the forwards, bypassing the midfield and launching India’s attacks.Read more here by Mihir Vasavda from Rajgir.
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