India beat South Korea 4-1 to lift Men’s Hockey Asia Cup 2025 at Rajgir Sports Complex
India defeated South Korea 4-1 in the final of the Men’s Hockey Asia Cup 2025 at Rajgir Sports Complex, claiming their fourth Asia Cup title. The victory ended an eight-year Asia Cup drought for India and secured their qualification for the 2026 Hockey World Cup.
India and South Korea contest one of Asian hockey’s oldest rivalries, first meeting at the 1958 Asian Games. India dominated many of the earlier encounters, while South Korea registered strong results at times and were among Asia’s top teams in the late 1990s but could not deliver in the world stage. The Asia Cup has been an event where South Korea have been top contenders, whereas India have been prominent across Asia since the start. The Indian side has regularly produced specialists in drag-flicking who have been influential in key matches.
In the fourth match of the Asian Champions Trophy 2023 India beat South Korea 3-2, a result that solidified India’s position at the top of the points table and guaranteed their place in the semi-finals. Nilakanta Sharma opened the scoring in the 6th minute, with captain Harmanpreet Singh and Mandeep Singh adding further goals. South Korea replied through Sunghyun Kim and Jihun Yang, but India held on to win and went on to win the tournament.
At the Asian Games semi-final India recorded a 5-3 win over South Korea to reach the gold medal match. South Korea built a 3-0 lead in the first quarter before India recovered to secure the victory. India then defeated Japan 5-0 in the final to claim the top spot on the podium.
India continued an unbeaten run in the league stage of the Asian Champions Trophy 2024 by beating South Korea 3-1 to advance to the semi-finals. Captain Harmanpreet Singh scored twice and Araijeet Singh Hundal added the third goal in that match.
In the Men’s Hockey Asia Cup 2025 Super 4 stage at the Rajgir Sports Complex Stadium in Bihar, India and South Korea played out a 2-2 draw. India opened but failed to convert several penalty corners, and Korea responded with a penalty stroke and a penalty corner to move ahead 2-1 before Mandeep Singh equalised with a field goal in the third quarter.
In the Asia Cup 2025 final at Rajgir Sukhjeet Singh put India ahead within 30 seconds with an assist from captain Harmanpreet Singh, Dilpreet Singh struck a brace in the 28th and 45th minutes, and Amit Rohidas scored in the 50th minute to make it 4-0. South Korea’s Son Dain scored a consolation in the 51st minute.
India have won 4 out of their last 5 encounters against South Korea, with 1 match ending in a draw.
