India Thrash South Korea 8-1 in Mohali to Reach Asian Champions Trophy Finalਭਾਰਤ ਨੇ ਮੋਹਾਲੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਦੱਖਣੀ ਕੋਰੀਆ ਨੂੰ 8-1 ਨਾਲ ਹਰਾ ਕੇ ਏਸ਼ੀਅਨ ਚੈਂਪੀਅਨਜ਼ ਟਰਾਫੀ ਫਾਈਨਲ ਵਿੱਚ ਥਾਂ ਬਣਾਈ

India stormed into the final of the men's Asian Champions Trophy Punjab 2026 on Wednesday, thrashing South Korea 8-1 in a one-sided semifinal at the Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium in Mohali. Shilanand Lakra and Dilpreet Singh scored two goals each as the hosts raced to a 6-1 half-time lead and never looked back.

Six goals in a blistering first half

Lakra opened the scoring in the fourth minute, lifting the ball into the net to set the tone for the evening. South Korea briefly silenced the home crowd when Sangjun Han equalised in the ninth minute, but captain Harmanpreet Singh restored India's lead almost immediately with a powerful penalty-corner drag-flick, his 10th goal of the tournament.

That goal opened the floodgates. Lakra struck again in the 13th minute, Sukhjeet Singh and Dilpreet Singh both scored in the 21st minute, and Dilpreet added his second four minutes later to make it 6-1 at the break. Angad Bir Singh scored in the 36th minute and Vivek Sagar Prasad completed the rout in the 54th, as India recorded their second eight-goal win over Korea in three days, having beaten the same opponents 8-0 in their final league match.

Unbeaten run rolls on

The semifinal was India's first international match at the Mohali stadium, played in front of a loud home crowd. The five-time champions had finished the league stage unbeaten with five wins from five matches, and carried that form straight into the knockout round. The win takes India into a record-extending seventh Asian Champions Trophy final, and their third in a row.

In the day's first semifinal, Japan edged Malaysia 5-3 in a shootout after the match finished goalless through 60 minutes of regulation time. India, the defending champions, will now meet Japan in Thursday's final at 7 pm in Mohali, chasing a record-extending sixth title in front of their home supporters.

Who scored for India against South Korea?

Shilanand Lakra (4th and 13th minutes) and Dilpreet Singh (21st and 25th) scored two goals each. Harmanpreet Singh (9th), Sukhjeet Singh (21st), Angad Bir Singh (36th) and Vivek Sagar Prasad (54th) scored one each, while Sangjun Han got Korea's only goal.

When and where is the Asian Champions Trophy final?

India play Japan in the final on Thursday, 5 November, at 7 pm at the Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium in Mohali. Japan beat Malaysia 5-3 in a shootout in the other semifinal.

How dominant have India been in this tournament?

India finished the league stage unbeaten with five wins from five, beat South Korea 8-0 in the league and 8-1 in the semifinal, and captain Harmanpreet Singh has scored 10 goals in the tournament.