 "Tactical brilliance to selfie buzz: How India turned the tables on Korea to book hockey World Cup spot")
Rajgir: India’s individual and tactical brilliance proved way too much for South Korea in front of a vociferous Sunday crowd here at the Rajgir Sports Complex on Sunday, delivering a fourth Asia Cup title and a ticket to the World Cup next year with an emphatic 4-1 win in the final.
The 4,000-capacity stadium was packed beyond its limit in anticipation of an Indian win, which arrived in style.
India scored just 31 seconds into the game through Sukhjeet Singh and added cushion through Dilpreet Singh, who starred with two goals in the 28th and 45th minute, while Amit Rohidas made it 4-0 in the 50th.
Korea scored a minute after India’s fourth goal to make it 4-1, but it was too late in the script to hope for a turnaround.
‘Nice to get the job done’
It is India’s fourth Asia Cup title and the first since 2017, and coach Craig Fulton was particularly happy about getting the monkey off the back with World Cup qualification in the bag.
“Eight years since India last raised this trophy. So, it’s nice to get the job done,” said Fulton while talking to Firstpost.
It’s a relief for the champions to avoid the World Cup qualifiers, when they have a packed calendar ahead with the Azlan Shah Cup, a tour of South Africa, Hockey India League and the Pro League. “If we had a World Cup qualifier on top of that, it would have been very difficult,” the coach added, as he was thronged for selfie requests after the match.
It was fanfare after the final whistle, with players posing with the trophy, both individually and as a team, in front of the camerapersons jostling for space – a spot in the limelight deservingly earned after a not-so-confident start to the tournament.
शाबाश टीम इंडिया 🇮🇳
— Jyotiraditya M. Scindia (@JM_Scindia) September 7, 2025
पुरुष हॉकी एशिया कप 2025 का खिताब चौथी बार अपने नाम करना और वर्ल्ड कप 2026 के लिए क्वालिफाई करना, हर भारतीय के लिए हर्ष और गौरव का क्षण है।
टीम इंडिया के जज़्बे, कड़ी मेहनत और अद्भुत टीम स्पिरिट को दिल से साधुवाद व बधाई। आप सबने 140 करोड़ भारतीयों का दिल जीत… pic.twitter.com/VpWzt3tRCR
But as the games moved to late evenings under the lights, India found their mojo and registered emphatic wins against Malaysia (4-1) and China (7-0) to enter the final, where the team once again exhibited why India are the best in Asia by a distance.
Harmanpreet delivers once again with 360-degree vision
Sukhjeet in attack and Harmanpreet in defence once again had a terrific game. Sukhjeet not just found spaces to receive the ball unmarked but also linked up with fellow strikers to flummox the Koreans. Harmanpreet not just manned the defence but his deliveries and 360-degree vision once again stood out, like in the last two matches.
Hardik Singh, meanwhile, remained the team’s pivot in the midfield and beyond the 23-yard line.
The one disappointment India faced was when Jugraj Singh missed a stroke, saved by Korean goalkeeper Jaehan Kim, who palmed the rising shot on his right. The Indian defender also received a green card in the second quarter (17th) min for a stick-check.
Champions’ performance on display! 🇮🇳🏆
— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) September 7, 2025
Don’t miss the highlights of India’s historic triumph over Korea in the Hero Asia Cup Rajgir, Bihar 2025 Final.#HockeyIndia #IndiaKaGame #HumseHaiHockey #HeroAsiaCupRajgir | @CMO_Odisha @sports_odisha @IndiaSports @Media_SAI @BSSABihar… pic.twitter.com/zSKu99S6KO
India kept testing the Korean defence, with Abhishek coming close twice. But it was Harmanpreet who once again showed his brilliance.
After the captain set up Sukhjeet for a goal in the first minute, it was the combination of Harmanpreet’s brilliance and a defensive lapse by Korea that resulted in the second goal. Like in the last match, Harmanpreet used his aerial delivery skills to good effect, this time finding Sanjay in the circle, who benefitted from the Korean defender missing the line of the scoop.
Dilpreet had created space by then to receive the ball, which he got from Sanjay and scored to make it 2-0 in the 28th minute.
Korea unable to capitalise on chances
Korea got a chance to cut India’s lead with two consecutive penalty corners in the third quarter, but India first benefited from Korea’s mis-stop and then saw Pathak padding away the shot on target.
Dilpreet scored his second goal, when a play off a corner between Harmanpreet and Raj Kumar Pal led to an assist to the young striker who completed his brace. India led 3-0 at the end of third quarter.
— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) September 7, 2025
India’s last penalty corner of the day, in the 50th minute, was converted by Amit Rohidas, who sounded the board with a well-placed grounded hit. Korea’s goal in the next minute, by Dain Son, was only a consolation.
As the clock ticked closer to the final hooter, the shouts from the stands had more decibels added to it. And the stadium erupted, counting the final 10 seconds to the moment when India once again became the Asia Cup champions.
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