India rout South Korea 8-2 at Gifu to remain unbeaten in Asian Games pool
India defeated South Korea 8-2 at the Gifu Prefectural Green Stadium in Kakamigahara on Thursday in the men’s hockey competition at the 2026 Asian Games, maintaining a perfect start to the tournament. The margin represented the biggest victory by which India has beaten Korea in hockey at the Asian Games.
Craig Fulton’s side had earlier recorded wins of 13-1 over Indonesia and 16-1 over Sri Lanka, leaving them unbeaten after three pool matches. The Indian attack capitalised on a disjointed Korean defence to create numerous openings, and India still have Japan and Bangladesh left to play in Pool A.
India opened the scoring after four minutes when Abhishek controlled a long overhead and set up Shilanand Lakra, who finished from a difficult angle. In the 10th minute a finish that looked to be from Dilpreet Singh was officially awarded to Sukhjeet Singh. Captain Harmanpreet Singh then converted a penalty corner with a drag flick in the 11th minute, sending the ball to the goalkeeper’s left.
Abhishek added to the tally after receiving Shilanand Lakra’s clever push and turning it into a goal despite two Korean defenders nearby. In the 26th minute Mandeep Singh supplied a backhand cross from the left baseline to an unmarked Dilpreet at the far post, and Dilpreet then scored again with a powerful tomahawk. India repeatedly breached Korea’s defence throughout the period.
South Korea committed numbers forward late in the third quarter and India had five players in the attacking circle in the 38th minute; Abhishek calmly directed the ball into the net to make it 7-0. South Korea finally reduced the deficit in the 42nd minute when Kim Jae-Ho’s effort struck the inside of the post before finding its way past goalkeeper Suraj Karkera. Kim Yong Bok then produced Korea’s highlight, bursting past Jarmanpreet Singh and unleashing a fierce strike that beat Mohith HS in the 52nd minute.
Rajinder Singh completed the scoring from the top of the circle in the closing stages to seal an 8-2 victory for India. The win places India at the top of Pool A with nine points from three matches.
South Korea have six points from as many games, while Japan have six points from two matches and face Indonesia later on Thursday. Malaysia lead Pool B with nine points from three games; Pakistan and China are on six points each, with both having played two matches. India will take on Japan on Saturday and the top two teams from each pool will progress to the semifinals of the men’s hockey competition.