Craig Fulton, the coach of the Indian men's hockey team, recognizes the challenges of maintaining momentum as his team heads into the Asia Cup 2025 final against Korea. India will face defending champions Korea in the final on September 7 in Rajgir, Bihar. After a dominant 7-0 victory against China in the Super 4s match, India topped the Super 4s standings and secured their place in the final against Korea. Korea, on the other hand, had a comeback victory against Malaysia, overcoming a 1-3 deficit to win 4-3.
Fulton acknowledges that "the hardest thing in sport is back-to-back matches". He emphasizes the importance of repeating their performance against China, but also recognizes that his players are "in a good place". He notes that they are playing well and, more importantly, playing for each other. Fulton wants the team to focus on the process and "play the match and not the occasion".
India's performance against China was comprehensive, with six different players scoring. Shilanand Lakra, Dilpreet Singh, Mandeep Singh, Raj Kumar Pal, Sukhjeet Singh, and Abhishek all found the net, showcasing the team's attacking depth. India's defense was also impressive, as they did not allow China to secure a single penalty corner. Fulton highlighted that they defended well and were disciplined in not giving away any opportunities.
Korea's path to the final was different, as they had to fight back from a deficit against Malaysia. Korea's goals were scored by Hyenhong Kim, Seyong Oh, and Jungjun Lee. Despite trailing for most of the first three quarters, Korea displayed resilience and scored two quick goals in the final quarter to secure the win.
India and Korea have already played each other in the Super 4s stage, resulting in a 2-2 draw. Fulton is wary of Korea's capabilities and has warned his team against taking them lightly. He emphasizes the importance of staying humble and grounded. A direct quote from Fulton stressed the importance of sticking to their game plan and playing with heart.
The final promises to be an exciting clash between two of Asia's top hockey nations. India will rely on their home crowd support and recent momentum, while Korea brings experience and grit as the defending champions. The winner will not only claim the Asia Cup title but also secure a place in the next year's Hockey World Cup.
The India vs Korea Asia Cup 2025 final will be held on September 7 at 7:30 PM IST.
