The Korean team celebrate their victory over India in the Asia Cup at the Azlan Shah Stadium yesterday.
IPOH: South Korea exacted sweet revenge by defeating India 4-3 in a thrilling final to win the Asia Cup hockey title for a record fourth time at the Azlan Shah Stadium last night.
The Koreans, who lost 2-0 to India in a group match on Aug 26, also won the tournament in Hiroshima (1993), Kuala Lumpur (1999) and Kuantan (2009).
The Koreans have already secured a place in the 2014 World Cup Finals after finishing fourth in the World League semi-finals in Johor Baru in July.
And with South Korea winning the Asia Cup, Malaysia, who are the first reserves for finishing fifth in Johor Baru, are also through to the Finals. Malaysia will be featuring in the World Cup after a 12-year hiatus. They last featured in the World Cup in KL in 2002.
Although India lost, they are also virtually through to the World Cup as the second reserves.
Last night, Jang Jong-hyun gave the Koreans the lead off their second penalty corner in the 28th minute as his low flick sailed past India goalkeeper P. R. Sreejesh. It was Jong-hyun’s eighth penalty-corner goal, earning him the top scorer award.
Hardly a minute later, You Hyo-sik increased the lead from close range.
India, however, refused to give up. And they managed to reduce the deficit in the 48th minute off a penalty corner flick by Rupinder Pal Singh.
And in the 54th minute, India made it 2-2 through Nikin Thimmaiah off a brilliant reverse stick goal which beat goalkeeper Lee Myung-ho all the way.
The Indians’ joy was shortlived. In the 58th minute, the Koreans were awarded a penalty stroke after an infringement by Manpreet Singh in the D. Nam Hyun-woo made no mistake to give the Koreans the lead.
Again, the Indians fought back and drew level in the 65th minute. Lakra Birendra’s cross was well flicked into the goal by Mandeep Singh.
Two minutes before the end, the Koreans earned a penalty corner and Kang Moon-kweon turned hero by making the chance count. He was named the man-of-the-match.
Korean coach Shin Seok-kyo was delighted with his players’ commitment.
“Although we took a 2-0 lead in the first half, the Indians never gave up. We again took the lead and again they levelled the score. “Luckily, we managed to convert the penalty corner in the 68th minute,” said Seok-kyo, who also congratulated the Malaysian team for confirming their place in the World Cup.
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