After wading past smaller, lower ranked teams in Kakamigahara, the Salima Tete-led outfit now faces South Korea in the semi-finals on Wednesday which will really test their nerves. NEW DELHI: The competition in hockey really starts now at the Asian Games.
South Korea is the most successful team in Asian Games history, reaching nine finals out of 11, winning on five counts. India, on the other hand, have reached the final thrice, only winning once at the inaugural edition at home in 1982. The Indian team stands just two victories away from ending a 44-year gold medal drought at the Asian Games, but their toughest challenge yet awaits. The team opened with a 19-0 statement win against Uzbekistan, followed by overwhelming victories over Indonesia (17-1), Thailand (20-1) and Singapore (7-0). Crucially, a hard-fought 3-1 victory against hosts Japan demonstrated India’s ability to maintain composure and structure under pressure. Drag-flick specialist Deepika has been the standout star of the tournament, leading the scorers’ list with 21 goals in five matches. Complementing her upfront is seasoned forward Navneet Kaur, who has chipped in with 10 goals — including seven from field play — while providing another reliable option in penalty corners (PC). Their campaign included a clinical 8-0 victory over Bangladesh, with their sole setback coming in a 0-3 loss to China.
But they are not going to be pushovers for the Sjoerd Marijne-coached team. India enter the last four clash on the back of a dominant Pool B campaign, sweeping all five matches while putting on an attacking masterclass. South Korea enter the final four having finished second in Pool A behind China, picking up four wins from five matches. Midfielder Seungae Park has been the driving force behind the Korean attack, netting eight goals in the tournament, and keeping her contained will be a prime directive for India’s backline.
After a two-day rest period, Marijne said that training has kept the squad in rhythm, acknowledging that while most pool opponents offered limited pushback outside of Japan, the semi-final against South Korea represents a major test that the team is fully prepared for.
