Asian Champions Trophy : Defending champions India tie 1-1 with Korea; confirm finals berth
India held Korea to a 1-1 draw in the last round robin match at the fifth Asian Champions Trophy women's hockey tournament on Saturday. With this draw, the team led by Sunita Lakra have earned themselves a place in the final on Sunday where they will face Korea once again in the summit clash.
The women’s Indian hockey team led by defender Sunita Lakra have remained unbeaten in the Asian Champions Trophy so far, having won against Japan (4-1), China (3-1) and Malaysia (3-2). The team now proceeds to the final on Sunday as the table toppers after having equalised 1-1 with Korea on Saturday.
Korea mounted a heavy attack from the very start but India managed to win the first penalty corner in the fourth minute. However, drag-flicker Gurjit Kaur couldn’t make the most of the opportunity as the Korean goalkeeper deflected her shot away. World No. 9 Korea earned themselves a penalty corner in the opening minute of the second quarter and Seul Ki Cheon executed a perfect drag-flick as she struck the ball into the right corner, well clear of India’s goalkeeper Savita and into the goal.
India struggled to find an opening through the third quarter. A fouled attempt at defending a shot on goal by a Korean attacker forced India to concede a penalty corner at the start of the fourth corner. However, Korea failed to make the best of the situation with an off-target shot. Following this, Lalremsiami helped India win a penalty corner. While Gurjit’s flick was intercepted by goalkeeper pads, Lalremsiami was quick to dive in and put the ball in the back of the goal thus equalising the score to 1-1.
As both teams fought it out in the final quarter to get one more goal than the other, Korea won another penalty corner in the 54 minute. Goalkeeper Swati’s excellent keeping foiled Korea’s effort to score a goal. The score remained tied at 1-1 at the end of the match despite the efforts made by both teams in the last few minutes of the match.
India will play Korea once again in the summit clash on Sunday.
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