Moqi, China: India, who’ve wins in 5 matches, would be the favourites after they tackle Korea, whose kind has been unpredictable at this Hero Asian Champions Hockey Event.
India, the Paris Olympics bronze medallists, have been in strong kind with 5 wins in 5 matches – having crushed China 3-0, trouncing Japan 5-1 and outplaying Malaysia 8-1.
The aspect led by the in-form drag flick star Harmanpreet Singh then beat Korea 3-1 earlier than edging out Pakistan 2-1 win.
Whereas India tackle Korea within the second semi-final, Pakistan will meet China within the different semi-final. The hosts beat Japan 2-0 of their final league match to get a spot within the semi-finals.
It has been a nice efficiency from the Indians as they’ve excelled in all departments.
Harmanpreet, top-of-the-line drag glints on the planet presently, has led from the entrance and has discovered his type of Paris Olympics, changing as many as 5 penalty corners.
The strikers have proven that they’ve paid consideration to scoring subject targets and the younger forwards Sukhjeet Singh, Abhishek, Uttam Singh, Gurjot Singh, Araijeet Singh Hundal and others have performed properly.
Midfielder Raj Kumar Pal, too, has shone vivid, scoring some nice subject targets. Moreover, veteran Manpreet Singh, vice-captain Vivek Sagar Prasad and Nilakanta Sharma has excelled within the midfield.
The Indian defence too has carried out stoutly, conceding simply 4 targets with goalkeepers Krishan Bahadur Pathak and Suraj Karkera exhibiting they’re able to tackle from the place the legendary PR Sreejesh left.
But, Korea can shock any workforce on their day as they confirmed with an equaliser on the hooter to attract 3-3 in opposition to Malaysia and that helped them get into the semi-final.
The Indian defence can even need to be careful and never concede too many penalty corners as Jihun Yang, the event’s main scorer with seven targets, is in nice kind.
