India, the bronze medallists at the Paris Olympics, have maintained their impressive form in the Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament, securing a spot in the semifinals after registering five consecutive wins in the league stage.
The Harmanpreet Singh-led side began their campaign with a 3-0 victory over hosts China, followed by dominant wins over Japan (5-1) and Malaysia (8-1). India then defeated Korea 3-1 before edging out arch-rivals Pakistan 2-1 in a closely contested match.
India’s performances have been characterized by their excellence in all departments. The forwardline, comprising young talents like Sukhjeet Singh, Abhishek, Uttam Singh, Gurjot Singh, and Araijeet Singh Hundal, has exceeded expectations by scoring crucial field goals. Midfielder Raj Kumar Pal has also shone brightly, contributing with some fine field goals.
The experienced trio of Manpreet Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, and Nilakanta Sharma have been instrumental in controlling the midfield, while the Indian defense has been equally impressive, conceding just four goals. Goalkeepers Krishan Bahadur Pathak and Suraj Karkera have filled the void left by the retirement of PR Sreejesh with aplomb.
Harmanpreet Singh, one of the world’s top drag-flickers, has led from the front, converting five penalty corners and providing a steady source of goals. He has been ably supported by young Jugraj Singh, who is known for his lightning-fast drag-flicks.
However, the knockout stage presents a new challenge for India, and they cannot afford to take Korea lightly. The Koreans are known for their unpredictable style of play and their ability to spring surprises. India’s defense will need to be cautious about conceding penalty corners, as Korea possesses a potent drag-flicker in Jihun Yang, the tournament’s leading scorer with seven goals.
In the other semifinal, Pakistan will face hosts China. The final is scheduled for Tuesday.
Harmanpreet Singh has warned his teammates against complacency, despite India’s impressive run so far. “We came into this tournament with very little rest or preparations after our Olympic campaign. Despite that, I am happy with how the team has done to progress into the semifinal stage,” he said.
“Korea is a tough team, they defend very well and can counter attack fast and skillfully,” added Harmanpreet.
