Mohali, November 4: India reached the final of the Asian Champions Trophy Punjab 2026 with an 8-1 win over Korea in the semi-final at the Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium on Wednesday. Shilanand Lakra and Dilpreet Singh scored two goals each, and India will play Japan in Thursday’s final.
Captain Harmanpreet Singh, Sukhjeet Singh, Angad Bir Singh and Vivek Sagar Prasad got the other goals. Sangjun Han scored Korea’s only goal in the ninth minute.
It was India’s first international match at the Mohali stadium, and the second time in three days they had put eight goals past Korea after an 8-0 win in Jalandhar to close the league stage. India are the defending champions and five-time winners, and will be going for a record-extending sixth title.
Three goals in the first quarter
India went ahead in the fourth minute. Dilpreet picked up the ball near the nine-yard area, exchanged passes with Sukhjeet and cut it back from the baseline for Shilanand to deflect in from close range.
Korea levelled in the ninth minute when Han deflected a pass from the right past goalkeeper Suraj Karkera. India hit back straight away, Harmanpreet drilling a drag-flick into the net from a penalty corner.
Another penalty corner followed in the 13th minute. Korean goalkeeper Kim Jaehyeon saved Harmanpreet’s first attempt, but Shilanand was quickest to the rebound for his second goal.
Dilpreet’s double puts India 6-1 up
After a quiet start to the second quarter, India scored twice in quick succession in the 21st minute. Sukhjeet controlled a long pass from Sanjay, turned past a defender and finished with a reverse flick. Moments later Angad and Dilpreet played a one-two, and Dilpreet stretched to guide the ball in.
Dilpreet scored again in the 25th minute, bringing down Harmanpreet’s long aerial ball into the circle and beating the goalkeeper with a reverse flick. India led 6-1 at half-time.
Korea down to ten after the break
Korea captain Kim Yong Bok was shown a five-minute yellow card early in the third quarter after his side had more than 11 players on the pitch. In the 36th minute Jarmanpreet Singh ran down the right and fed the ball into the circle for Angad to make it 7-1. Amandeep Lakra had a penalty-corner attempt saved soon after.
Korea had one penalty corner in the final quarter, but Park Geunwoo shot wide. In the 54th minute Vivek carried the ball in from the right on his own and beat the goalkeeper with a reverse hit for the eighth goal.
Dilpreet named Player of the Match
Dilpreet, Player of the Match for his two goals, said: “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.”
Japan through on penalties
Japan reached the final by beating Malaysia 5-3 in a shootout after the first semi-final finished goalless. Earlier in the day China beat Bangladesh 3-1 in the classification match for fifth place.
India topped the league stage with 15 points from five wins, five ahead of second-placed Japan. Follow more hockey news on Indian Sports News.
