Asian Champions Trophy 2023: India secure nervy 3-2 victory over South Korea

Continuing their commanding run in the Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament, India clinched a tense 3-2 victory over South Korea in their fourth round-robin encounter.

Having amassed 10 points from a blend of three triumphs and a draw, India stand atop the league table. Their semifinal berth was already secured prior to this match. The initial spark came from Nilakanta Sharma, who netted a goal in the sixth minute. The situation aligned perfectly as Sukhjeet transferred the ball to Sumit Shamsher Singh, who, after elegantly evading two defenders, set the stage for Sharma to find the net.

However, India's euphoria was short-lived, as the Korean team responded with an equalizer merely six minutes later. Kim Sunghyun's adept play found the ball behind India's goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak, who was celebrating his 100th international appearance. The goal's setup was credited to Manjae Jung.

Nevertheless, India managed to regain their advantage when Harmanpreet Singh capitalized on a penalty corner opportunity in the 23rd minute. Singh's well-aimed shot towards the right of the goalkeeper ignited the cheers of the spectators present at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium.

In the 33rd minute, Mandeep Singh further solidified India's position, extending their lead to 3-1 in the match.

Korea's Yang Jihun managed to narrow the gap, securing a goal in the 58th minute, but India adeptly held onto their lead during the final two minutes.

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