India are into the final of the Asian Champions Trophy 2026 after thrashing South Korea 8-1 in the semi-final at the Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium in Mohali on Wednesday (4 November). Shilanand Lakra and Dilpreet Singh scored two goals each.
Lakra put India ahead in the fourth minute after a run down the left by Dilpreet. Han Sangjun levelled for Korea in the ninth minute, beating goalkeeper Suraj Karkera against the run of play, but India hit back almost at once. Captain Harmanpreet Singh scored with a drag-flick from a penalty corner, his 10th goal of the tournament, and Lakra pounced on a rebound in the 13th minute to make it 3-1 at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter belonged to India. Sukhjeet Singh scored with a no-look finish from Sanjay’s pass, and Dilpreet struck twice, the second a first-time shot from a tight angle off a long ball from Harmanpreet in the 25th minute. India went into half-time 6-1 up. Angad Bir Singh got a touch to Jarmanpreet Singh’s ball from the right for the seventh, and Vivek Sagar Prasad finished the scoring in the final quarter with a reverse hit.
Dilpreet was named Player of the Match. “A brace and a Player of the Match performance! Dilpreet Singh shines in India’s emphatic 8-1 semi-final victory over Korea to help the hosts book their place in the final of the Hero Asian Champions Trophy Punjab 2026 against Japan on November 5!” Hockey India posted on X.
It was India’s sixth straight win of the tournament, and a repeat of their 8-0 rout of Korea in the league stage in Jalandhar on Monday. Even then, coach Craig Fulton had warned that the margin would mean little in the knockouts. “The pressure is different. We need a good start. That’s the key,” he said after Monday’s game.
Japan reached the final by beating Malaysia 5-3 in a shootout after their semi-final ended goalless. The final is on Thursday (5 November) at 7 pm IST, and India, the defending champions, will be chasing a record-extending sixth title. Korea will play Malaysia for bronze.
“UP NEXT: JAPAN IN THE FINAL! 🇯🇵 🗓️ Thursday, November 5 ⏰ 7:00 PM IST One more step to glory! 🇮🇳🏆” Hockey India posted after the win.
View @TheHockeyIndia’s post on X
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- Hindustan Times: India thrash Korea 8-1 to storm into Asian Champions Trophy final (4 Nov 2026)hindustantimes.com
- Sportstar: Asian Champions Trophy 2026: India thrashes Korea 8-1 to enter final against Japan (4 Nov 2026)sportstar.thehindu.com
- The Times of India: Harmanpreet, Shilanand lead India’s goal fest as hosts thrash South Korea 8-1 (4 Nov 2026)timesofindia.indiatimes.com
- The Indian Express: India blank Korea 8-0 in ACT; to face them again in semis (2 Nov 2026)indianexpress.com
- Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) on X: India take a 3-1 lead at the end of Q1 (4 Nov 2026)x.com
- Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) on X: Dilpreet Singh leads the way (4 Nov 2026)x.com
- Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) on X: Up next, Japan in the final (4 Nov 2026)x.com
- Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) on X: India dominate the first two quarters (4 Nov 2026)x.com