The Indian men's hockey team is close to securing a spot in the final of the Asia Cup 2025. India needs to win their last Super-4 stage match against China on Saturday to confirm their entry into the final.
Sports News: Just one step away from reaching the final of the Asia Cup, the Indian men's hockey team will have to put up an excellent performance against a confident China in their final Super 4 stage match on Saturday. After a 2-2 draw with five-time champions South Korea, India defeated Malaysia 4-1 in their second Super 4 match. This victory will have significantly boosted the morale of the team, captained by Harmanpreet Singh, ahead of the crucial encounter against China.
Currently, India is at the top of the table with four points from two matches, while China and Malaysia have three points each. Korea is out of the race for the final with one point.
India's Performance in Super-4
India played a 2-2 draw against five-time champions South Korea. Subsequently, the team's morale was boosted by defeating Malaysia 4-1. So far in the Super-4, India has accumulated four points from two matches, while China and Malaysia have three points each. South Korea is out of the final race with one point. The top two teams from the Super-4 stage will qualify for the final. A draw against China would be sufficient for India, but a win will further enhance the team's confidence.
India conceded an early goal against Malaysia but made a superb comeback. Chief Coach Craig Fulton stated that this was still not the team's best performance. He told the players that expectations are very high, and the way to meet them is by focusing on the finer details.
Manpreet Singh, Hardik Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, and Rajinder Singh showcased excellent play in the midfield. The coordination between the forward line and the midfield was outstanding. Hardik created numerous opportunities with his quick dribbling and individual runs. Manpreet Singh not only created chances but also orchestrated many goal-scoring opportunities. Abhishek, Sukhjit Singh, and Mandeep Singh capably handled the offensive responsibilities.
India's Match Against China
India must capitalize on every opportunity within the circle and avoid panic. There is a need for improvement in penalty corners. Only one out of six penalty corners was converted into a goal against Malaysia. Captain Harmanpreet and other players like Jugraj Singh, Sanjay, and Amit Rohidas need to improve in this area.
China defeated India 3-4 in the pool stage, but the team has shown improvement in its performance since then. Therefore, India must exercise caution in the match against China. Any minor mistake could impact India's chances of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
