The Indian men’s hockey team is set for a crucial clash against China in the Super 4 stage of the Asia Cup, with a spot in the final at stake.
After a dominant 4-1 win over Malaysia, India needs just a draw against China to secure a place in Sunday’s summit clash. Coach Craig Fulton is calling for the team to reach peak performance.
India bounced back strongly after a disappointing 2-2 draw against five-time champions South Korea, convincingly outplaying Malaysia in their second Super 4 match. The victory moved India to the top of the standings with four points from two matches, while both China and Malaysia have three points each. Korea sit at the bottom with one point.
Despite the win, Fulton emphasized that the team is “still not there” in terms of peak performance, urging players to focus on the finer details. India’s midfield, marshalled by veterans Manpreet Singh, Hardik Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, and Rajinder Singh, has been impressive, showing excellent coordination with the forward line. Hardik Singh’s dribbling and solo runs have been particularly eye-catching.
Manpreet Singh continues to demonstrate his experience and hunger, creating chances, assisting, and scoring against Malaysia. Upfront, Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh, and Mandeep Singh have delivered strong performances, while young Shilanand Lakra, returning from a two-year injury, has contributed both goals and assists.
A key area of concern remains penalty corner conversion. Against Malaysia, India earned six penalty corners but converted only one via a rebound. Fulton highlighted the need for composure inside the circle to maximize scoring opportunities.
China, ranked 22nd in the world, have shown improvement since their narrow 4-3 loss to India in the pool stages, displaying strong mental resilience. Any lapse from India could impact direct qualification to next year’s World Cup, co-hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands.
Other Super 4 Match: Malaysia vs South Korea.
Teams:
India: Krishan B Pathak (GK), Suraj Karkera (GK), Sumit, Jarmanpreet Singh, Sanjay, Harmanpreet Singh (C), Amit Rohidas, Jugraj Singh, Rajinder Singh, Raj Kumar Pal, Hardik Singh, Manpreet Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Mandeep Singh, Shilanand Lakra, Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh, Dilpreet Singh.
China: Xu Ao, Qijun Chen, Jiesheng Gao, Chengfu Chen, Yuanfeng Meng, Pengfei Li, Chongcong Cheng (C), Yuanlin Lu, Dihao Meng, Shihao Du, Xiaojia Zhang, Suozhu Ao, Nan Meng, Changliang Lin, Weihao Wang (GK), Caiyu Wang (GK), Yang Ao, Benhai Chen.