India produced a ruthless display of hockey to dismantle China 7-0 in their final Super 4s clash at the Men’s Asia Cup 2025 in Rajgir, Bihar on Saturday. The emphatic victory booked India’s place in the final, where they will face defending champions Korea on Sunday evening.
Lakra and Dilpreet Set the Tone Early
India wasted no time stamping their authority on the contest. In the 4th minute, captain Harmanpreet Singh’s aerial ball found Jarmanpreet on the right, who delivered a precise cross for Shilanand Lakra to score at the far post. Just three minutes later, a penalty corner led to India’s second, with Dilpreet Singh pouncing on a rebound to make it 2-0 inside the opening quarter.
Relentless Pressure in the Second Quarter
India’s dominance only grew in the second quarter. After a near miss by Mandeep Singh, the forward quickly redeemed himself by slotting home in the 18th minute after a goalmouth scramble from a penalty corner. China, meanwhile, struggled to cope with India’s pace and precision, rarely venturing beyond their own half.
Floodgates Open in the Third Quarter
With the match firmly under control, India struck twice more in quick succession. Raj Kumar Pal converted Lakra’s deflection in the 37th minute before Sukhjeet Singh added the fifth two minutes later with a thunderous strike from the circle. By then, China looked completely outplayed, with India toying with their defensive structure.
Abhishek’s Brace Seals the Rout
India showed no mercy in the final quarter. Abhishek scored in the 46th minute after a dazzling solo run by Sukhjeet created the opening, before adding his second in the 50th with a classy back-handed finish past the Chinese goalkeeper. From start to finish, India dominated every department, underlining their credentials as serious contenders for the Asia Cup crown.
Korea Awaits in the Final
With momentum firmly on their side, India will now gear up for the ultimate test against defending champions Korea in Sunday’s final at 7:30 PM IST. Victory there would cap a near-perfect campaign for the hosts in Rajgir.
Scorers for India: Shilanand Lakra (4’), Dilpreet Singh (7’), Mandeep Singh (18’), Raj Kumar Pal (37’), Sukhjeet Singh (39’), Abhishek (46’, 50’)
