Women’s Hockey Asia Cup 2025: India Defeat Korea 4-2 in Super 4 Opener
India beat South Korea 4-2 in their first Super 4 match of the Women’s Hockey Asia Cup 2025, continuing their unbeaten run in Hangzhou.
Indian women’s hockey team celebrate after a 4-2 victory against South Korea in their Asia Cup 2025 Super 4 opener at Hangzhou.
The Indian Women’s Hockey team started their Super 4 campaign at the Asia Cup 2025 on a bright winning note by beating South Korea 4-2 at Hangzhou on Wednesday. With this win, India became the only unbeaten team in the tournament after topping the group stage with seven points.
The goals from the Indian side came thanks to Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke (2'), Sangita Kumari (33'), Lalremsiami (40'), and Rutuja Dadaso Pisal (59'), while Korea's Yujin Kim bagged a brace with goals in the 33rd and 53rd minutes. India will be up against hosts China on Thursday.
Strong Start for India
The goal had come early for India, as Vaishnavi put away a penalty corner rebound in the 2nd minute. Korea tried to make an immediate response with a series of penalty corners, but some splendid goalkeeping by Bichu Devi Kharibam halted them in the tracks. Remember, the regular skipper Savita Punia was away.
In the 22nd minute, Mumtaz unleashed a reverse shot with intent to double the scores, but a splendid save from the Korean goalkeeper stopped that from happening.
Chaos All Along
With the start of the second half, the game had opened. Sangita Kumari opened the scoring with a smart field goal in the 33rd minute, but Korea were quick to pull one back from a penalty corner conversion by Kim.
India again seized the momentum with a field goal by Lalremsiami in the 40th minute, putting India 3-1 ahead. Korea once again put up a fight, throwing in all they had to reduce the lead back to 3-2 with their second penalty corner conversion by Kim in the 53rd minute.
But India wrapped up this one with Rutuja Pisal's goal from a rebound in the 59th minute to seal a comfortable 4-2 win.
India's Backbone in Goalkeeping
The mentor, Janneke Schopman, had to stand the test of her decision in placing her trust in Bichu Devi in pressure-cooker situations. The young goalkeeper is becoming a force to be reckoned with, having played fully in certain crucial matches. Reliably standing her ground against such other stiff opposition as Japan and Korea.
