India vs South Korea Highlights, Men's Hockey Asia Cup 2025 Final: India crowned Asian champions with 4-1 victory

Harmanpreet Singh and his men receive the trophy and the gold medals that they thoroughly deserve, and are all smiles for the team picture! (PC: Jaspreet Singh)

The 26-year-old, who had won the Player of the Match award in the 7-0 thrashing of China yesterday, finishes the tournament with six goals.

Time for the medal distribution ceremony, starting with bronze medallists Malaysia, who had defeated China 4-1 earlier today.

1982: Pakistan

1985: Pakistan

1989: Pakistan

1994: South Korea

1999: South Korea

2003: India

2007: India

2009: South Korea

2013: South Korea

2017: India

2022: South Korea

2025: India

The Indians have been the standout team in the tournament, topping Pool A as well as the Super 4s. And while they began their campaign with a couple of scrappy wins, they kept getting stronger with each passing game and were miles ahead of their opponents towards the end!

Q4, 15′: The Indians manage to see off the remaining waves of attack from the Koreans until the final hooter goes off at the Rajgir Sports Complex, which signals the end of South Korea’s reign as Asian champions!

India inflict a comprehensive 4-1 defeat on South Korea to win the Asia Cup for a fourth time, and book their ticket for the next FIH World Cup!

Q4, 6′: The Koreans are awarded a PC with the referee also awarding a green card to Raj for a foul. The Koreans opt to pass the ball along the left flank before Dain directs the ball past Karkera – who has replaced Pathak for the final quarter – into the Indian goalpost with a forward dive.

Can they mount a comeback for the ages from here?

The organisers are ensuring the spectators, who have turned up in large numbers for the final, remain entertained as the players take a quick break and discuss tactics for the remainder of the game (PC: Jaspreet Singh).

Q2, 15′: End of the second quarter, one that was looking dull for the most part but livened up towards the end with Dilpreet’s field goal! Sanjay, who had assisted in the second goal, nearly scores one himself a minute later, attempting a reverse hit from the right flank that hits the side of the goalpost! He gets a green card shortly before the half-time hooter – which will continue after restart as well.

Don’t go anywhere. We’ll be back with the second half shortly.

Some last-minute tactics being discussed between Harmanpreet Singh and his men before the start of the match (PC: Jaspreet Singh):

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Here are the two finalists lining up at the centre of the stadium for the national anthems (PC: Jaspreet Singh):

Here’s the head-to-head record between the two finalists:

Matches: 22

India won: 10

South Korea won: 2

Draws: 10

Rajgir sure has turned up in large numbers for the Men’s Hockey Asia Cup, with the venue currently packed for the final between India and South Korea. Here are some pictures shared by hockey writer Jaspreet Singh, who’s covering the event at the venue:

And here are the two teams warming up before the match:

Here’s South Korea’s road to the 2025 Men’s Hockey Asia Cup final: 

– Defeated Chinese Taipei 7-0 (Group Stage)

– Lost to Malaysia 4-1 (Group Stage)

– Defeated Bangladesh 5-1 (Group Stage)

– Drew against India 2-2 (Super 4s)

– Lost to China 0-3 (Super 4s)

– Defeated Malaysia 4-3 (Super 4s)

Here’s India’s road to the 2025 Men’s Hockey Asia Cup final: 

– Defeated China 4-3 (Group Stage)

– Defeated Japan 3-2 (Group Stage)

– Defeated Kazakhstan 15-0 (Group Stage)

– Drew 2-2 against South Korea (Super 4s)

– Defeated Malaysia 4-1 (Super 4s)

– Defeated China 7-0 (Super 4s)