India vs South Korea, Hockey Today Super 4 match at Asia Cup 2025 Rajgir Scorecard Highlights: India managed to eke out a late draw against title holders and 5-time winners Korea in their first Super 4s clash in the men’s Asia Cup on Wednesday in Rajgir. The match’s start was delayed by nearly an hour but India started brightly and vice captain Hardik Singh scored a fine solo goal to give the hosts a lead. But Korea hit back in the first quarter with a penalty stroke and penalty corner. Two goalless quarters followed but with 7 minutes to go, Mandeep Singh equalised for India from close range to salvage a point in the Super 4s round-robin match. Jihun Yang (12′) and Hyeonhong Kim (14′) scored for Korea.
India face Malaysia – now the only team with a perfect win record in the tournament after beating China 4-0 earlier – on Thursday night.
India vs South Korea Hockey Asia Cup Super 4 live streaming
India’s free scoring ways have often papered over their defensive frailties this tournament with Harmanpreet Singh and Co just edging past Japan 3-2 and china 4-3 before thrashing Kazakhstan 15-0 on Monday to end as the top team in Pool A. Korea, meanwhile, have more often than not struggled in the Rajgir heat, shockingly losing to Malaysia 4-1 to end as runners up in Pool B.
Coming into the match, India were unbeaten against the defending champions in their last five matches. However, when the two teams met at the same stage in the previous edition of the Asia Cup, it ended in a high-scoring draw, with the scoreline reading 4-4. India, who conceded seven goals in the group stage — four against China and three against Japan — will hope to tighten their backline and improve their field goals ratio. Craig Fulton’s team has scored just once from open play against the two opponents, not counting the 15-0 win over a lowly Kazakhstan in their final group-stage encounter. Read more by Mihir Vasavda here, our man on the ground in Rajgir for the men’s Asia Cup hockey tournament..
Hosts India and defending champions Korea played out a 2-2 draw in their opening Super 4s game at the Hero Men’s Asia Cup Rajgir Bihar 2025. Hardik Singh (8') and Mandeep Singh (53') were the goalscorers for India while Jihun Yang (12') and Hyeonhong Kim (14') scored for Korea.
Join us tomorrow for India vs Malaysia, 7.30 pm IST pushback.
India manage a draw, but largely, they struggled going forward. 23 circle entries and 7 shots on goal is not great conversion. Neither is 0/6 from PCs. Not a bad result but again a reminder this is not going to be easy in Rajgir.
Korea's goalkeeper Kim Jaehan is the player of the match. Some big saves from him, as he played all four quarters.
Kore vs China and Malaysia vs India on Thursday.
Two huge matches now, given this 2-2 draw between Korea and India today.
Both teams would perhaps be happy that they didn't lose the match but Korea will be pleased with their night's work. India were largely disjoint in their attacks, far too many moves breaking down inside the opponent's D. Mandeep Singh's equaliser a saving grace, a defeat would have been hugely damaging.
Next up for India, they take on Malaysia next tomorrow night at 7.30 pm. Malaysia are now the only remaining perfect team in the tournament.
FULL TIME: India huff and puff their way to a 2-2 draw against defending champions South Korea to begin their Super 4s stage. Korea good value for the result, India largely disappointing going forward.
Less than a minute to go and India give up possession far too cheaply, that will annoy Fulton. Dilpreet couldn't control the ball don the byline and this means the match is going to wind down harmlessly.
This is a full blown low block from Korea. 3 mins to go, they have the ball back but India are pressing high to win the ball back.
CHANCE FOR INDIA! Abhishek fores the turnover, hits a lovely aerial ball to Sukhjeet at the edge of the circle. He controls the ball and unleashes a shot on the volley. Great technique but the ball flies just wide.
Korea down to 10 men with 2 mins to go. They will finish most of this remainder of the matach with a player short.
Can India capitalise?
Suraj Karkera reacts to a loose pass from Korea quickly to kick the ball away. India have possession with 4 mins to go.
The draw is not a bad result for either side. Korea seem happy to sit back now and India are charging forward to find a winner.
Under 4 mins to go.
Penalty corner for Korea! AFter a good run from BAE Jongsuk down the right. Harmanpreet is not happy at all but India have no reviews left.
Korea go for a variation from the set piece but India, thanks to Harmanpreet, deal with the danger.
India lose their referral now after Vivek called for a late review. Both teams have lost their referral .
7 mins to go.
GOAAALLLLL INDIA!!!!! A sensational team goal that one. Harmanpreet Singh with a cute reverse pass from the left flank into Sukhjeet Singh who does well to turn inside the circle and release a well-hit pass to Mandeep at the far post. That's great decision-making there. Mandeep still had to bring the ball into control, he does so and taps the ball into the empty goal as the goalkeeper was taken out by the pass from Sukhjeet.
53rd minute: INDIA 2-2 KOREA
SAVE BY JAEHAN! WOW superb from Rajinder to release down the right flank. Mandeep does superbly to dribble past a couple of tackles and just as the ball was evading his control, he stretches and unleashes a reverse hit. It is on target and the brilliant Korean goalkeeper saves superbly.
Under 10 mins to go in the match now.
Sukhjeet turns well just outside the circle. Lovely work to beat two defenders and then he is brought down. India have another PC. But Harmanpreet is not on the pitch. Amit and Jugraj lineing up.
It goes to Jugraj in the 2nd battery and it is rushed out superbly.
Sukhjeet with a driving run through the middle, releases Abhishek to his right. The forward's first control is not great, and he tries to switch his tact to hit reverse but couldn't get the shot away. That goes down as another big missed chance. Shortly after Raj Kumar does well down the right channel to drop his shoulder and make some space. He finds Sukhjeet but unable to turn the ball into the net.
Some huge misses in that quarter, as Sukhjeet and Abhishek fail to convert some golden opportunities. Another goalless quarter, India have just 15 mins to turn this around.
WOW! Superb block from Jinkang Rim at the post, as he turns away Harmanpreet's drag flick. Brilliant post defending.
That brings an end to Q3 and India have just 15 more mins to turn this around.
PENALTY CORNER: It's been a while, Abhishek does well this time down the right byline to control a long pass and then finds the feet. A PC for India with Harmanpreet Singh on the pitch. Can the captain step up?
ANOTHER BIG MISS! WOW. Hardik with a sensational pass to Abhishek who is in a lot of space inside the circle. He has too much time to think about this and ends up neither testing the goalkeeper nor finding a teammate. The goal was at his mercy there.
The game is end to end at the moment. India attack with Abhishek, move breaks down. Korea counter, do really well to keep the ball and enter the circle. Move breaks down. Then India counter again. and Sukhjeet with a bad pass to Mandeep.
BIG MISS! WOW. Manpreet Singh with a sensational crossfield pass all along the ground. The ball goes all the way to Sukhjeet in front of Korea's goal, his first touch is beautiful to bring the ball under control. But his finish, as he tried to place it instead of going for power, rolls past the Korean goalkeeper Daehan who came out forward to cut the angle down.
Shortly after Abhishek has another go at goal as the ball falls to him kindly off a deflection but the reverse hit is far too high and wide.
That's a couple of massive misses. 3 mins to go in the quarter.
India's passing is just far too side-to-side at the moment. Not enough vertical passes, not able to break the Korean lines with any consistency.
A couple of attempted 3-D dribbles from Hardik down the right flank but he is marked by multiple defenders and the attempt to win PC didn't pay off. Korea going heavy on their marking of Hardik, the heart of India's attacking moves. India need to find some other options here.
India win the ball back high up down the right flank, it looked like it was Vivek who got a reverse hit away but it was blocked away. Korea go on the counter and believe they have won a PC. A review is asked for, and Korea lose their referral. There was a lot going on in the circle , but the umpire sees no stick check.
India sitting deep in this quarter. Pehaps trying to invite Korea forward then hit on the counter. Korea also deep in defence. Another India attacking move down the right and it breaks down after Dilpreet did well to win the ball back high.
CHANCE INDIA! A lovely pass down the middle from Hardik breaks the Korean lines, Mandeep finds Rajinder down the right but Abhishek is not able to lift the ball over the keeper. Good move.
No rhythm yet in India's play early in Q3. A rare mis-pass from Hardik under no pressure. Not like him. Sums up India's attacking threat today since the opening few minutes.
Here we go, the second half underway. We didn't get to hear the coaches' thoughts.
No goals in the second quarter as Korea hold on to their lead going into half time. India under some pressure here in Rajgir in the Super 4s opener.
Korea, to their credit, are not just looking to sit deep and defend this lead. A lovely aerial to the right flank down the byline and India had to be alert in defence. India look to counter with a Harmanpreet aerial, finding Hardik in space. But as another move breaks down, the hooter goes for half time.
HALF TIME: India 1-2 Korea
Jugraj and Sumit combine well down the left to release Abhishek down the left channel but the Sonepat forward is unable to control the ball while running forward. Another move breaks down in the final third.
Under 2 mins to go in the half.
Kazakhstan conceded seven goals in the first half, let India enter their ‘D’ nearly every minute, and allowed a shot at their goal every second minute on average. Yet, their assistant coach smiled politely at the interval and said his team was playing a ‘good game’.
It was hard not to empathise with them. In the hockey universe where competition gets thin beyond the top 15 of the world, Kazakhstan are ranked 87th, below Hungary and just above Zimbabwe — countries that exist as hockey nations in the rankings list but barely play. Kazakhstan last played in the AHF Cup, a second-tier Asian competition where they were spanked 7-1 by Chinese Taipei, another hockey minnow. They are in Rajgir only because Pakistan pulled out followed by Oman, and got barely a week or two to prepare for the continent’s showpiece event, a World Cup qualifier no less.
