Asia Cup hockey: Indian women take on high-scoring Korea in semis
China play Japan in the second semifinal. The tournament champions get a direct entry in the World Cup next year.
- NDTVSports
- Updated: September 26, 2013 12:21 PM IST
With an eye on next year's hockey World Cup, Indian women play South Korea in a semifinal match of the 8th Asia Cup in Kuala Lumpur today. China play Japan in the other semifinal.
India claimed a hard-fought 2-0 win against Malaysia, with Poonam Rani and Lily Chanu Mayengbam both scoring crucial second half goals to end the host nation's title and World Cup qualification ambitions. The result sealed a second place finish in Pool A behind China, who on Tuesday powered to a 7-0 win over Hong Kong China to make it three tournament wins out of three.
Korea continued their superb run of form with a blistering 16-2 win against Chinese Taipei to seal their place at the top of Pool B, while Japan confirmed their place in the competition semifinals with a thoroughly convincing 12-0 drubbing of Kazakhstan.
With Asia's four finest teams powering into the semis, Thursday's matches are expected to be incredibly close and fiercely contested.
Pool A runners up India face a mammoth task when they face Pool B winners Korea, a side that has scored a breath-taking 31 goals in just three matches.
The second semifinal sees Pool A winners China butting heads with Japan, the runners up from Pool B. China will be favourites, but Japan are more than capable of battling their way into the tournament final.