In recent years, the Indian men’s hockey team has emerged as a formidable force in Asia. Under the leadership of skipper Harmanpreet Singh, they secured an undefeated victory in the Asian Champions Trophy held in Chennai last year. Their momentum continued as they clinched the gold medal at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, earning a well-deserved spot at the upcoming Olympics.

As the sole Asian representative in Paris, India showcased their prowess against some of the world’s top teams, achieving consecutive Olympic medals for the first time in 52 years. Currently ranked No.5 globally, the team resumed its campaign after a brief hiatus, maintaining their form by decisively winning all five group matches in the six-nation Asian Champions Trophy tournament held in Hulunbuir City, China.

However, their recent encounters posed more significant challenges. Both South Korea and Pakistan intensified their efforts, yet India’s experience and composure enabled them to triumph. Despite a hard-fought 1-3 loss, South Korea is gearing up to challenge India again in Monday’s semi-finals at the Moqi Training Base, while Pakistan will compete against China in the other semi-final clash.

It’s noteworthy that South Korea last defeated India five years ago during the final of the 2019 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup. Since then, the two teams have faced off five times, resulting in two draws and three wins for India. In this tournament, South Korea has been unpredictable, with a record featuring a 3-2 victory against hosts China, three draws, and one loss, securing a semi-final spot in fourth place.

South Korea’s offense has been consistent, thanks to Yang Ji-hun, the tournament’s top scorer with seven goals. They have netted 14 goals overall, the second highest after India. However, their defense remains vulnerable, often exploited by opposing strikers. On any given day, South Korea can be a formidable opponent, as evidenced by their last-minute equalizer to secure a 3-3 draw against Malaysia and advance to the semi-finals. India’s defense must remain vigilant, particularly in avoiding penalty corners where Yang’s proficiency could be a threat.

India enters the semi-finals as clear favorites, having dominated their pool with victories over China (3-0), Japan (5-1), Malaysia (8-1), South Korea (3-1), and Pakistan (2-1). Harmanpreet Singh stands out with five goals, making him the tournament’s second-highest scorer. The Indian forwards have been equally impressive, tallying 21 goals across five matches—averaging 4.2 goals per game.

The forward line, including Sukhjeet Singh, Abhishek, Uttam Singh, Gurjot Singh, and Araijeet Singh Hundal, has excelled in generating penalty corner opportunities for Harmanpreet’s drag-flick group and contributing significantly to the team’s goal tally with 13 goals. The midfield has also been outstanding; Raj Kumar Pal scored his first international hat-trick against Malaysia. Experienced players like Manpreet Singh, vice-captain Vivek Sagar Prasad, and Nilakanta Sharma have delivered strong performances.

Defensively, India has been robust, conceding only four goals throughout the tournament. Goalkeepers Krishan Bahadur Pathak and Suraj Karkera have proven themselves capable successors to the retired PR Sreejesh, demonstrating readiness and skill between the posts.

As India prepares for the semi-finals against South Korea, their combination of offensive firepower and defensive solidity positions them strongly to advance and continue their dominance in Asian hockey.