Akashdeep puts India in Asiad hockey final

Akashdeep Singh ends India’s 12-year final jinx in Asiad hockey, scoring the lone winning goal against South Korea. India will lock horns with Pakistan for the gold medal on Thursday.

September 30, 2014 03:27 pm | Updated November 16, 2021 07:08 pm IST - Incheon

India's Akashdeep Singh, center, and Danish Mujtaba, right, battles for the ball with South Korea's Nam Hyun-woo during their  Men's Hockey semifinal match at the 17th Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

India's Akashdeep Singh, center, and Danish Mujtaba, right, battles for the ball with South Korea's Nam Hyun-woo during their Men's Hockey semifinal match at the 17th Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

In what can be described as momentous, India stunned Korea by a solitary goal to make the final of the men’s hockey competition at the Asian Games here.

India will lock horns with Pakistan for the gold medal on Thursday.

The last meeting for the gold in the Asian Games was in 1990 at Beijing where the competition was played on round robin basis.

Pakistan beat Malaysia in a nail-biting shoot-out after the teams were level at 0-0 at the end of the regulation time.

The first set ended 3-3, but in the sudden death phase Pakistan won 3-2 to aggregate a margin of 6-5.

Overpowering the Korean team in front of its home crowd is an achievement.

The hero was Akashdeep Singh, who flicked in what turned to be the match-winner in the last phase of the third quarter.

It was an absorbing contest, with the emphasis by both teams being circumspection. What really stumped the usually vibrant Korean attack was the success of the Indian defenders denying that acceleration.

Try as they did the Koreans could not dictate the pace. Nothing substantiates this than Korea’s solitary penalty corner in the match.

Missing chances

The Indians not only initiated impressive moves but also guarded the goal area with absolute control.

What appeared discordant was the way the frontline failed to make capital of the openings created by the hard-working midfield in which Gurbaj Singh and Sardar Singh stood out as was Birendra Lakra in the back-line supported by Raghunath.

The frontline, despite its dominance failed to hit the target. Dharamvir missed a couple.

So did Ramandeep, who shot wide on the run with only the Koran goalkeeper before him. Akashdeep, Chandi and Ramandeep all missed easy chances.

It was not until Akashdeep sent the ball home from an incisive through pass by Ramandeep Singh that the Indians looked relieved.

The last time when India figured in the final of the Asian Games was in 2002 at Busan losing to Korea 3-4.

In a fast-paced match, neither Pakistan nor Malaysia gave anything away paving the path for the first shoot-out with the attacker dribbling from the 25-yard line to beat the goalkeeper in eight seconds.

Inspired by the splendid showing against the Japanese in the earlier match, the Malaysians dictated terms for the major part.

Pakistan showed equal vigour but could not beat the goalkeeper Kumar, who saved at least four powerful shots.

The results:

Men: 7-8: Oman 3 (Al Balushi, Islam Muhamad, Basim Khatar) bt 2 (Pushkor Khisa, Krishna Deo Kumar).

Semifinals: India 1 (Akashdeep Singh) bt Korea 0.

Pakistan drew with Malaysia 0-0

Shoot-out: First set: Pakistan 3 (Waqas, Haseem Khan, Fareed Ahmed) Malaysia 3 (Jalil, Sabah, Fitri). Second set: Pakistan 3 (Haseem Khan, Waqas, Rashid Mohmood) Malaysia 2 (Fitri, Sabha). Total: 6-5.

Wednesday’s matches:

Women: (5-6): Malaysia vs Kazakhstan (10.30 a.m.).

(3-4): India vs Japan (1 p.m.); Final: Korea vs China (3.30 p.m.)

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