India thrash South Korea 8-1 to reach third successive Asian Champions Trophy final
India beat South Korea 8-1 in the semi-final of the Men's Hockey Asian Champions Trophy 2026 at the Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium in Mohali on Wednesday to reach a third successive final.
The match was India’s first international fixture at the Mohali stadium and was played before a vociferous home crowd. The five-time champions had finished the league stage unbeaten with five wins from five matches and carried that form into the knockout round; Japan reached the other final after edging Malaysia in a 5-3 shootout following a goalless semi-final.
Shilanand Lakra (4′, 13′) and Dilpreet Singh (21′, 25′) scored twice each, while Harmanpreet Singh (9′), Sukhjeet Singh (21′), Angad Bir Singh (36′) and Vivek Sagar Prasad (54′) were also on target. Sangjun Han (9′) scored Korea’s only goal.
India opened the scoring in the fourth minute through a team move that began with Dilpreet collecting the ball around the nine-yard area, passing to Sukhjeet and receiving it back before cutting across the baseline for Shilanand to deflect home. Korea levelled in the ninth minute when Sangjun Han deflected a right‑side pass past goalkeeper Suraj Karkera, but India immediately restored the lead from a penalty corner with skipper Harmanpreet’s drag‑flick.
A 13th‑minute penalty corner saw Harmanpreet’s first attempt saved by goalkeeper Kim Jaehyeon, with Shilanand reacting quickly to score on the rebound. The second quarter started slowly for five minutes before Sukhjeet converted a reverse‑flick after controlling a pass from Sanjay to make it 4-1, and a quick one‑two between Angad and Dilpreet produced another goal; Dilpreet then added his second in the 25th minute from Harmanpreet’s long aerial pass to leave India 6-1 at half‑time.
The second half featured a rare procedural incident when Korea captain Kim Yong Bok received a five‑minute yellow card after the visitors fielded more than 11 players. In the 36th minute Angad converted following a strong run and delivery from Jarmanpreet Singh; India earned a penalty corner after Shilanand was struck by a rebound but Amandeep Lakra’s attempt was saved, and Park Geunwoo’s late penalty corner for Korea went wide. Vivek finished a solo run with a reverse hit in the 54th minute to make it 8-1, and the packed stands erupted as fireworks were set off at the final hooter.
Dilpreet was named Player of the Match for his two goals, and he credited the team for the result, saying: “Our aim was to execute our plans. It doesn’t matter who scores and who doesn’t. It is very special to play in Punjab, with our families in the stands and represent India in front of them. Thanks to all the fans for their energy. We look forward to seeing the fans in the final as well.” He also credited teamwork for India scoring eight goals against Korea in a second consecutive game.
In the classification match for fifth place China beat Bangladesh 3-1. India will now meet Japan in the final on Thursday, November 5, at 1900 hrs IST in Mohali and will attempt to secure a record‑extending sixth Asian Champions Trophy title.