The Indian men’s hockey team will face South Korea in the semi-final of the Hero Asian Champions Trophy Punjab 2026, with a place in the tournament final at stake.
The defending champions will enter the knockout encounter aiming to continue their unbeaten run and move closer to securing a sixth title. The match is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, November 4, at the Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium in Mohali, Punjab.
Led by captain Harmanpreet Singh, India have enjoyed an impressive campaign, winning all five of their league-stage matches to finish at the top of the points table with 15 points. The hosts scored 34 goals and conceded only five during the opening stage, demonstrating their attacking strength and defensive consistency. Their performances have established them as strong contenders to retain the continental championship.
India will also take confidence from their previous encounter against South Korea, whom they defeated 8-0 in their final league-stage match on November 2 in Jalandhar. However, the semi-final presents a different challenge, with South Korea looking to respond after the heavy defeat. The Korean side will need to strengthen its defence and contain India’s attacking players to remain in contention for a place in the final.
Harmanpreet Singh has been among India’s leading performers and currently tops the tournament’s scoring charts with nine goals. Sukhjeet Singh and Dilpreet Singh have also contributed significantly, scoring four goals each during the competition. India’s attacking depth and ability to convert scoring opportunities will be important as they prepare for the knockout fixture, where even a brief lapse could affect their chances.
The India versus South Korea semi-final began at 7:00 PM IST on November 4. Hockey fans in India can watch the match live on Star Sports 2, while online streaming will be available through the JioHotstar app and website. The other semi-final will feature Japan and Malaysia, scheduled to begin at 4:30 PM IST on the same day.
The Men’s Asian Champions Trophy Punjab 2026 features six participating teams: India, South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, China and Bangladesh. Following the round-robin league stage, the top four teams qualified for the semi-finals, with India finishing first, followed by Japan, Malaysia and South Korea. The tournament will conclude on November 5, when the bronze-medal match will take place at 4:30 PM IST, followed by the final at 7:00 PM IST.