New Delhi: On a hockey pitch, Jarmanpreet Singh is an unmistakable presence. Towering and athletic, his dynamic stickwork, swift pace, and flowing beard set him apart. On Monday, the 28-year-old shone brightly once again, propelling India to a commanding 4-1 victory over South Korea, securing a spot in the Asian Champions Trophy final.

Jarmanpreet, a skilful right-back, demonstrated his exceptional ability to rapidly alter the game’s tempo and create numerous scoring opportunities. His efforts were capitalized on by Uttam Singh in the 13th minute and captain Harmanpreet Singh in the 19th and 45th minutes. This victory marked the defending champions’ sixth consecutive win in Hulunbuir City, China.

In the 32nd minute, Jarmanpreet crowned his outstanding performance with a remarkable goal. Goals from non drag-flicking defenders are rare, making his strike the highlight of the match. Fellow defender Sumit launched an aerial ball from midfield, which Jarmanpreet skillfully controlled on the right before slapping it home from the top of the shooting circle. It was his first goal since February.

Reflecting on the match, Jarmanpreet expressed his satisfaction, “We played exceptionally well today. Advancing to the final makes us very happy. Sumit provided me with a splendid ball for the goal, and I am thankful to my roommate for understanding me so well and setting it up.”

Drag-flicker Yang Ji-hun managed to score his eighth goal of the tournament for South Korea in the 33rd minute, offering a brief consolation.

Jarmanpreet’s career has seen a significant turnaround. Once banned in 2015 for failing a dope test, he lost two crucial years of his burgeoning career. Although he debuted for India a year later, he fell out of favor with former chief coach Graham Reid, who preferred Surender Kumar from Haryana. This resulted in Jarmanpreet playing only 23 matches over four years and missing out on the Tokyo Olympics.

Under the guidance of current chief coach Craig Fulton, who emphasizes a strong defense, Jarmanpreet has emerged as a vital team member. Fulton positioned him in the crucial right-back role. Last year, Jarmanpreet played 35 games for India, and he has already participated in 34 this year. His standout performance helped India secure a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics.

At the Moqi Training Base, Jarmanpreet continued his impressive form from the French capital, helping India start the semi-final strongly. The team forced an early save from Korean goalkeeper Kim Jae-han.

While India’s defense effectively neutralized Korean counterattacks, the forwards finally broke through with a beautifully orchestrated team goal. Former captain Manpreet Singh passed to Raj Kumar Pal, who pushed it towards Araijeet Singh Hundal. Hundal then smashed it across from the right for Uttam Singh to tap in.

Hailing from Rajdhan village in Amritsar district of Punjab, Jarmanpreet earned India their first penalty corner early in the second quarter. Captain Harmanpreet Singh capitalized on this opportunity to double India’s lead.

After Jarmanpreet made it 3-1 early in the third quarter, South Korea responded by earning a penalty corner, which Yang Ji-hun successfully converted with a drag-flick down the middle, beating goalkeeper Krishan Pathak.

Both teams had scoring opportunities as the third quarter concluded. A critical error by Korean goalkeeper Kim Jae-han resulted in a 10-minute yellow card for him and gifted India another penalty corner. Harmanpreet flicked the ball hard and low to new keeper Oh Dae-won’s right, sealing India’s 4-1 victory.

In another thrilling match, hosts China stunned Pakistan with a 1-1 (2-0 shootout) victory to reach the final of the six-team tournament for the first time. Three-time winners Pakistan will now face Korea in the third-place playoff.

Lu Yuanlin gave China the lead in the 18th minute before Ahmad Nadeem equalized for Pakistan in the 37th minute. Chinese goalkeeper Wang Caiyu emerged as the star of the game by thwarting all four of Pakistan’s shootout attempts. This delighted home fans who had gathered in large numbers due to a government holiday for the Mooncake Festival.

Player-of-the-Match Lu Yuanlin shared insights on their preparation: “We prepared with great enthusiasm. We discussed strategies in small batches before coming together as a team for final preparations. Playing test matches against Pakistan before this tournament boosted our confidence since we had some wins against them.”

This victory sets up an exciting final clash between India and China, promising high-octane action and thrilling moments for hockey enthusiasts worldwide.