September 4, 2025

RAJGIR: What a thunderous finish for India’s men’s hockey team in the Asia Cup group stage! The crowd at Rajgir Sports Complex watched in awe as India smashed Kazakhstan 15-0 on Monday. Yes, FIFTEEN goals! This one-sided game gave the hosts a big confidence boost ahead of the Super4 stage that begins Wednesday. But hold on, the big test is yet to come. India faces a strong South Korea side in their first Super4 match, while China will lock horns with Malaysia. The stage is set for some fiery action! The biggest cheer came for the Indian forwards who finally found their rhythm. Abhishek, who had been having a tough run and missing chances in the Japan game, turned hero by scoring four goals in this match. While he tried some fancy reverse hits which sometimes missed, his four field goals were impressive. Besides Abhishek’s strikes, India scored five other field goals, a sign of a sharp and confident attack. Coach Craig Fulton was all smiles after the game. “We’re full of confidence now. It was good to spend a lot of time in the final third and that’s what we were hoping to get, and I think we were able to do so. 15 goals against any team is not easy and there was a good balance between field goals and penalty corners,” he shared. Fulton added, “Going into the Super4s, you want to have your strikers connecting and scoring goals and, obviously, they got a nice play up front. You can just run around and dribble and it’s also good to keep the defenders nice and sharp.” While the attackers dazzled, the defenders had a quiet day. Kazakhstan didn’t test them much, unlike Japan who managed to score twice against India. However, Suraj Karkera’s awesome goalkeeping and Vivek Kumar Prasad’s swift runs during penalty corners saved the day. Against China, India conceded three goals from six penalty corners, showing some work remains to be done at the back. Looking ahead, the toughest task for India will be grinding through four games in just five days if they reach the final – which looks highly possible! “Against Kazakhstan, we had to make sure that we play at a high enough tempo but not get any injuries or not do anything silly,” Fulton said. “Now, it’s going to be super difficult but at the same time that’s what we train for – lots of back-to-back games. So yeah, we’re ready for it.” The silver lining? All remaining matches are scheduled in the evenings, offering cooler weather compared to the sweltering afternoon heat where players struggled before. A rest day will also help India recharge before the big clashes. As for South Korea, the defending champions thrill fans with their strong past performances but have recently stumbled, losing 1-4 to Malaysia and suffering four straight defeats to India recently. Their last draw against India was three years ago at the same stage, but this time India look sharper and hungrier. So hold on tight! With the home crowd roaring and the team firing on all cylinders, can India keep their winning streak alive and take the Asia Cup trophy home? The Super4 stage promises sizzling hockey and nail-biting moments. Don’t miss the action!

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Tags: India hockey, Asia cup, Harmanpreet singh, Super4 stage, South korea, Craig fulton,