Rajgir, September 3:
The opening Super 4 clash of the Hero Men’s Asia Cup Rajgir, Bihar 2025 turned into a thrilling contest as India and Korea battled to a 2-2 draw. For India, Hardik Singh (8’) and Mandeep Singh (53’) found the net, while Korea equalized through Jihun Yang (12’) and Hyeonhong Kim (14’).
India’s Early Lead
Despite a delayed start due to rain, India began aggressively on the wet turf. They earned two penalty corners in the opening minutes but failed to convert. In the 8th minute, Sukjeet Singh intercepted the ball in midfield and set up Hardik Singh, who produced a brilliant solo run, beating the Korean defense and goalkeeper to slot home the opener.
Korea’s Quick Response
Korea hit back strongly. In the 12th minute, following a foul by Jugraj Singh, they were awarded a penalty stroke which Jihun Yang converted with precision. Just two minutes later, Hyeonhong Kim’s drag flick from a penalty corner made it 2-1 in Korea’s favor.
India Pushes Back
India pressed hard in the second quarter with several attacking moves, but the Korean defense stood firm. Skipper Harmanpreet Singh’s long pass in the 22nd minute found Germanpreet Singh, but his shot was denied by the goalkeeper.
The third quarter saw more missed chances for India. Manpreet Singh and Abhishek came close, while Harmanpreet’s drag flick at the end of the quarter was cleared off the line by a Korean defender.
Mandeep Saves the Day
The final quarter was dominated by India. In the 49th minute, a penalty corner chance went begging, but soon after, Mandeep Singh’s backhand strike was brilliantly saved by the Korean keeper. Finally, in the 53rd minute, Sukjeet Singh provided a perfect pass to Mandeep, who calmly tapped the ball into the net to level the score at 2-2.
Both teams had late chances from penalty corners, but the scoreline remained unchanged until the final whistle.
What’s Next
India will face Malaysia in their second Super 4 encounter on Thursday, September 4 at 7:30 PM.
Other Results
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Japan defeated Chinese Taipei 2-0
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Malaysia beat China 2-0
Live Broadcast
The matches are being broadcast live on Sony Sports Network in India. Fans in the USA, UK, Netherlands, Europe, and North America can watch the action live on Watch.Hockey.
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