Akashdeep Singh scored a brilliant field goal to help a spirited India beat hosts Korea 1-0 and enter the final of the men’s hockey competition of the 17th Asian Games for the first time 12 years, in Incheon on Tuesday.
After a barren opening half, it took a gem of a goal from Akashdeep to break the deadlock in the 44th minute of the match.
Indian men’s hockey team, which last made it to the final of the Asian Games way back in 2002 Busan Games, will now face the winner of the other semifinal between arch-rivals Pakistan and Malaysia in the summit clash on Thursday.
The Indians were by far the dominant side in the entire 60 minutes and controlled the proceedings from the word go. The Koreans played catch-up hockey throughout the match but failed to break the resolute Indian defence.
There was hardly any clear scoring opportunity for the Koreans, whereas India threatened the opponent goal throughout the encounter.
India had the first attempt on goal in the fifth minute of the game from a counter-attack but Dharamvir Singh missed a sitter as he overrun a pass from S V Sunil with only the Korean goalkeeper Myungho Lee to beat. Three minutes into the second quarter, India earned two back-to-back penalty corners but Korean custodian Lee made a fantastic save to his right to deny V R Raghunath a goal.
After a goalless half time, India kept up the pressure and mounted numerous raids on the Korean citadel only to be disappointed by the misfiring forwardline.
Ramandeep Singh and Gurvinder Singh Chandi once again proved to be a big letdown upfront. The Indian defence, which had a habit of breaking down under pressure, had a fantastic outing today. The likes of Birendra Lakra, Raghunath, Manpreet Singh and Rupinderpal Singh stood like a rock to thwart any danger to their goal.
Gurbaj Singh once again was brilliant on the right wing, so was Sunil.
India’s persistent efforts finally bore fruit in the 44th minute when Akashdeep slammed home a first-hand strike from a virtually impossible angle to the relief of the Indian camp.
