India win Hockey Asia Cup-2025, qualifies for World Cup, S Korea's move backfired
Hockey Asia Cup-2025 Final: Indian team has won the Hockey Asia Cup title. With this, the Indian team has also qualified for the Hockey World Cup to be held in Belgium and Netherlands next year. India defeated South Korea 4-1 in the final of the Asia Cup-2025. The Indian hockey team has won the Asia Cup title for the fourth time.
S Korea's only goal came in 51st minute
For India, Sukhjeet Singh scored a goal in the very first minute, while Dilpreet scored goals in the 28th and 45th minutes. Amit Rohidas scored the fourth goal in the 50th minute. On the other hand, the only goal for the five-time champion South Korea was scored by Dan Son in the 51st minute. India registered five wins in the tournament and played one draw.
The team captained by Harmanpreet Singh won all three pool matches. In the Super 4 stage, they defeated Malaysia 4-1 and China 7-0 while the match with Korea was drawn 2-2. India had earlier won the Asia Cup in 2003, 2007 and 2017. South Korea has won the title in 1994, 1999, 2009, 2013 and 2022. The World Cup is to be held in Belgium and Netherlands from 14 to 30 August. India has won the Kuala Lumpur World Cup only once so far in 1975.
Korea played defensive for most of time
S Korean team was seen playing defensive most of the time, which backfired on them. In the first two quarters, they were not successful in penetrating the Indian defense and the Korean team could not even create chances to score goals.
India won its first Asia Cup title in 2003, when it defeated Pakistan 4-2 in the final held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. After this, it won the continental title for the second time by defending its title by defeating Korea 7-2 in the final held in Chennai in 2007. India won its third Asia Cup title in Dhaka in 2017 when it defeated Malaysia 2-1 in the final. In 2025, India won the match by defeating Korea 4-1. This match was played in Rajgir, Bihar.