Asian Champions Trophy: In-form India clear favourites vs Korea in semis
Maintaining a clean slate, favourites India will fancy their chances when they take on a below-par but unpredictable Korea in the semifinals of the Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament here on Monday.
Paris Olympics bronze medallist India have been in rollicking form in the tournament so far, registering five wins out of five league matches. The Harmanpreet Singh-led side started their campaign with a 3-0 win over hosts China and then trounced Japan and Malaysia 5-1 and 8-1 respectively.
India then beat Korea 3-1 before eking out a narrow 2-1 win over arch-rivals Pakistan.
It has been a commanding performance from the Indians as they excelled in every department be it forwardline, midfield or defence.
The most promising part of India's performance in the league stages has been the form of the strikers.
Scoring field goals was a major concern in Paris but here the young forwardline comprising Sukhjeet Singh, Abhishek, Uttam Singh, Gurjot Singh, Araijeet Singh Hundal and others