Asia Cup 2025: India thrashes China 7-0 to reach final, to face Korea
Asia Cup 2025: India thrashes China 7-0 to reach final, to face Korea
Tricky, tough, tense. India’s last Super 4s game at the Asia Cup here against China was expected to be all of this and more. Instead, it was a masterclass in what the Indian team was capable of when it got its mind to it as the host ran roughshod for a 7-0 victory to storm into the final and a step closer to a World Cup spot on Saturday.
The three-time champion will face five-time winner Korea in the final after the latter stunned Malaysia 4-3 in the other Super 4s game.
If China had any hopes of causing an upset or running India close, it was in for a surprise. India looked like a team on a mission. It started on a blistering pace and kept the tempo up through the first 30 minutes for China to not just be rattled but left gasping and trying to play catch-up. The impressive Chinese defence that had held strong so far in the competition was dismantled in quick time.
The speed was accompanied by domination of both possession and space. So much so that for the first two quarters, China barely had an entry into the Indian circle or a look-in at the Indian goal. Every attempt to find space resulted in a turnover that saw India threatening to score.
Harmanpreet Singh was stationed at half line, Jarmanpreet and Amit Rohidas assisting on the flanks, and Sanjay even coming close to scoring. Shilanand Lakra deflected a Jarmanpreet pass in the fourth minute after a couple of close calls.
Abhishek, back on striking duty after playing a withdrawn role in the previous game, constantly threatened. Hardik and Rajinder marshalled the midfield, and Sumit and Manpreet, running the length and breadth of the field, were tireless and kept running circles around the Chinese midfield and defence.
A penalty corner each in the first two quarters was both saved by the Chinese rusher, only to see the rebounds slammed in, first by Dilpreet at the near post and then by Mandeep, positioned on the goalline to push in Vivek’s shot to be 3-0 up inside the first 20 minutes.
Post break, the frenetic pace was replaced by a more controlled tempo, but equally dominant. The Chinese edged ahead cautiously, knowing they had to get into the game, but left gaps in the back to concede four more. If the first half was about speed, the second was about asserting superiority. The numbers say it: India had 19 circle entries and 13 shots at goal compared to China’s four and one, respectively. China’s biggest weapon was nullified by not conceding a single PC.
Published on Sep 06, 2025
