Asian Champions Trophy: India brush aside Korea, seal finals berth

Defending champions India entered the final of the 2024 Asian Champions Trophy with a comprehensive 4-1 win over South Korea in Hulunbuir, China, on Monday.

A brace from skipper Harmanpreet Singh, and goals from Uttam Singh and Jarmanpreet Singh were enough to see India through to the final.

India will now face hosts China in the final, who beat Pakistan in a shoot-out earlier in the day.

Right from the first quarter, India commanded the game with multiple circle entries and the first goal finally came in the 13th minute, courtesy of Uttam Singh who was in the perfect position to tuck home Jarmanpreet's cross.

In the second quarter, India won a penalty corner in the 19th minute and Harmanpreet converted it thanks to a big deflection from a Korean defender.

The third quarter was more action-packed with India scoring their third as Jarmanpreet struck the board with a powerful strike after receiving a diagonal pass from Sumit.

The Koreans did pull one back, thanks to the tournament's top scorer Yang Ji-Hun, who converted a penalty corner.

The third quarter ended with India taking a 4-1 lead after captain Harmanpreet again punished the Koreans.

To add insult to injury, the Korean goalkeeper was given a yellow card and penalised with a penalty corner for handling the ball outside the circle.

The fourth quarter was about game management, and India cruised to a comfortable victory.

India will take on China in the final on Tuesday, at 3:30 PM, IST.