# India Crushes Korea 8-1 to Secure Asian Champions Trophy Final Spot India will face Japan in the final after a dominant semifinal victory in Mohali. - **Source:** [The Hindu – Sport](https://www.thehindu.com/sport) - **Published:** 2026-11-04 - **Topic:** [sports](https://brifing.si/c/sports) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/881f87e4-58e7-400c-bf7b-e4cd1e1856c0 ## Dominant Semifinal Performance India secured a commanding 8-1 victory over Korea at the Olympian Balbir Singh International Stadium on Wednesday. This result propels the hosts into their sixth Asian Champions Trophy final in seven appearances. Shilanand Lakra initiated the scoring in the fourth minute, setting a relentless pace that Korea struggled to match throughout. ## Korean Transition Challenges The Korean squad is currently undergoing a significant transition phase, featuring mostly young players. Only five members from their recent Asian Games roster participated in this match. Consequently, they were unable to overcome the skill gap, extending their seven-year losing streak against India despite a brief equalizer from Han Sangjun. ## Strategic Scoring Intervals India maintained consistent offensive pressure, establishing a 3-1 lead by the end of the first quarter. By halftime, the advantage had widened to 6-1. Key contributors included Dilpreet Singh with two goals, while Harmanpreet Singh, Sukhjeet Singh, Angad Bir Singh, and Vivek Sagar Prasad also added their names to the scoresheet. ## Defensive Resilience Observed Although the match pace slowed after the break, Korea faced constant pressure. Goalkeeper Kim Jaehyeon performed impressively during the third quarter, executing several desperate saves to prevent further damage. Despite these efforts, India remained in total control, effectively neutralizing any potential for a Korean comeback during the second half. ## Japan Advances via Shootout Japan reached its third Asian Champions Trophy final, and its first since 2021, by defeating Malaysia. The regulation time ended in a goalless draw, forcing a shootout which Japan won 5-3. This victory marks their second consecutive win against the higher-ranked Malaysian side, showcasing their tactical discipline and defensive organization. ## Japanese Defensive Prowess Japan relied on an airtight defense and a standout performance from goalkeeper Takumi Kitagawa to frustrate Malaysian forwards. Malaysia failed to convert five penalty corners throughout the match. Captain Raiki Fujishima nearly broke the deadlock in the 57th minute, but his shot rebounded off the post, keeping the score level. ## Tournament Context and Results The upcoming final between India and Japan represents the first time these two nations will compete for the title in this tournament. In other classification matches, China secured a 3-1 victory over Bangladesh. Yulai Zhao, Yaqi Wang, and Chen Chongcong scored for China, while Md. Shohanur Rahman netted for Bangladesh. ## Final Match Expectations India enters the final as the clear favorite following their high-scoring semifinal display. Japan, however, has demonstrated significant defensive resilience and composure under pressure during their shootout victory. The final on Thursday will test whether Japan's disciplined structure can withstand India's aggressive, high-tempo attacking style in this championship showdown. ## Sources covering this story - [The Hindu – Sport — India Dominates Korea to Reach Asian Champions Trophy Final](https://www.thehindu.com/sport/dominant-india-storms-into-thefinal/article71666957.ece) - [Source — India Crushes Korea 8-1 to Reach Asian Champions Trophy Final](https://sportstar.thehindu.com/hockey/india-vs-korea-hockey-semifinal-result-asian-champions-trophy-2026-final-japan/article71666805.ece) --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._