Star forward Shilanand Lakra and Dilpreet Singh scored twice each as five-time champions India stormed into the men’s Asian Champions Trophy final with an emphatic 8-1 win against South Korea in the second semi-final on Wednesday.
Lakra struck in the fourth and 13th minutes, while Dilpreet scored in the 21st and 25th. Skipper Harmanpreet Singh (9th), Sukhjeet Singh (21st), Angad Bir Singh (36th) and Vivek Sagar Prasad (54th) also found the net as India reached the final for a record-extending seventh time.
Sangjun Han (9th minute) pulled one back for South Korea.
Asian Games gold winners India will face Japan in the final on Thursday.
Japan edged Malaysia 5-3 in a penalty shootout after the teams played out a goalless draw in regulation time in the first
semi-final earlier in the day.
India had defeated South Korea 8-0 in the round-robin stage also.
The hosts have remained unbeaten in the tournament, topping the six-team round-robin standings with wins in all five games.
India held a commanding 6-1 lead at half-time, scoring three goals in each of the first two quarters. The hosts earned four penalty corners during the game, while South Korea didn’t win any.
Lakra opened the scoring for India with a field goal in the fourth minute, but South Korea drew level five minutes later through Sangjun Han.
India continued to dominate, making frequent incursions into the opposition circle and earning a penalty corner in the ninth minute. Skipper Harmanpreet converted the chance to restore India’s lead.
Four minutes later, Lakra scored his second goal of the day off a rebound from a penalty corner as India took a 3-1 lead.
India continued to dominate South Korea in the second quarter, scoring three field goals in the space of five minutes. Sukhjeet struck in the 21st minute before Dilpreet found the net moments later.
(With PTI Inputs)
