Asian Games hockey: India beat South Korea 8-2 for third straight win

The Indian men's hockey team kept up its impressive form at the Asian Games 2026. In a one-sided contest on Thursday, India thrashed South Korea 8-2. This was India's third consecutive win in the tournament.

India had earlier thrashed Indonesia 13-1 in their opening match, then beaten Sri Lanka 16-1. Against South Korea too, Team India maintained its dominance. India took the lead in the fourth minute itself, with Shilanand Lakra scoring the first goal.

Sukhjeet Singh doubled India's lead in the 10th minute. After conceding two goals in the first ten minutes, South Korea's defenders came under complete pressure, and Indian captain Harmanpreet Singh capitalised by scoring off a penalty corner in the 11th minute. This was India's third goal. Towards the end of the first quarter, Abhishek scored the fourth goal to take India's lead to four.

In the second quarter, South Korea's defence tightened up and did not give the Indian team many chances early on. But in the 26th minute, Dilpreet Singh managed to breach the opposition defence, taking India's lead to 5-0. Six minutes later, in the 32nd minute, Dilpreet scored his second goal and India's sixth. With India attacking relentlessly, South Korea were nearly on their knees, and their defence was breached once again by Abhishek, making it India's seventh goal.

South Korea did not give up until the end and put up a good fight. Kim Jeho scored their first goal in the 42nd minute. About ten minutes later, Kim Yang Bok scored South Korea's second goal. In the final quarter, Rajinder Singh scored India's eighth goal, sealing another emphatic win for India.

The Indian hockey team will next play Japan on September 26.