Category: Sports

The Indian men’s hockey team has reached the final of the Hockey Asia Cup 2025, setting up a mouth-watering clash with defending champions Korea on Sunday, September 7. A victory will not only secure India their fourth Asia Cup title but also guarantee a berth at the 2026 Hockey World Cup. India’s road to the final was not without its struggles. They opened with a shaky 3-2 win over China, where captain Harmanpreet Singh’s hat-trick masked the team’s sluggish start, still carrying scars from a poor Pro League campaign. Gradually, they found rhythm—edging Japan 3-2, thrashing Kazakhstan 15-0, and showing flashes of brilliance in the Super 4s despite a nervy 2-2 draw with Korea and a shaky start against Malaysia. The turning point came in the rematch against China, where India produced their most dominant display of the tournament—a 7-0 demolition featuring six different goalscorers and a flawless defensive performance, not conceding a single penalty corner. Korea, meanwhile, have had an inconsistent run. They stumbled in the group stage against Malaysia and later lost 3-0 to China in the Super 4s. But a spirited comeback from 1-3 down against Malaysia in their must-win clash propelled them into the final. Goalkeeper Jaehyon Kim, who made stunning saves in that match, has already declared Korea will be “going for the win” in the final. India vs Korea: The Numbers Korea’s last victory over India came in the 2021 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup final, decided via a shootout. With India in top form after their emphatic win over China, and Korea showing resilience in tight moments, Sunday’s final in Rajgir promises to be a battle of skill, grit, and nerves—with a World Cup ticket on the line.

Rajgir: The Rajgir Sports Complex was once again packed to the rafters as fans gathered to watch India take on Japan in their second Asia Cup clash on Sunday. While many expected a dominant display from the hosts, it turned into a tense affair, with India scraping through to a narrow 3-2 win. Strong goalkeeping by Suraj Karkera and the tireless running of Vivek Sagar Prasad during penalty corners proved decisive, helping India secure their place in the Super4s stage. Mandeep Singh opened the scoring as early as the fourth minute with a neat field goal following a pass from Sukhjeet Singh. Just a minute later, skipper Harmanpreet Singh doubled the lead from a penalty corner. Japan pulled one back through Kosei Kawabe in the 38th minute, but Harmanpreet struck again in the dying moments of the third quarter, slipping the ball through the goalkeeper’s legs for his second of the match. Kawabe responded once more in the final minute, deflecting the ball off the framework past Karkera, leaving Japan a goal short of parity. Japan piled on the pressure in the closing stages, especially after Harmanpreet received a yellow card. But Karkera stood tall, denying four successive penalty corners in the second quarter and three more in the final quarter. His reflexes were on full display—first blocking with his left foot and then diving to stop a rebound attempt. Meanwhile, Krishan Bahadur Pathak, playing his 150th international, also made five crucial saves. Speaking after the match, Karkera credited preparation and teamwork. “We had planned a way to defend the PCs, and we executed it. Of course, there is a lot of space for improvement. But we watched the videos of the match against China and worked on wherever we did wrong,” he said. The custodian revealed he had faced up to 500 shots per training session in preparation, focusing particularly on counter control, which showed when Japan pressed hard late in the game. Coach Craig Fulton praised Karkera and Vivek’s performances but expressed concern over missed opportunities. “We high-pressed really well, and that part of our game was excellent. We couldn’t convert a few more field goals, but the stats are really high for us in that aspect. We just couldn’t finish what we started,” Fulton noted. He also pointed out the toll of playing in the afternoon heat, which drained the team in the third quarter and allowed Japan back into the contest. Earlier in the day, China thrashed Kazakhstan 13-1 after conceding an early penalty corner goal. With momentum on their side, China will face Japan next, while India’s next challenge will be against Kazakhstan.

Zurich, August 28, 2025: Two-time Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra had to settle for second place at the Diamond League Finals for the third straight year, as Germany’s Julian Weber produced a commanding performance with back-to-back 90m-plus throws to clinch his maiden trophy. Chopra managed a best effort of 85.01m in his final attempt, moving past 2012 Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott (84.95m) to secure silver. Defending champion Anderson Peters of Grenada finished fourth with 82.06m. Weber stole the show early with a 91.37m opener followed by a career-best 91.57m in his second attempt. He added throws of 83.66m, 86.45m, and 88.66m to underline his dominance, finishing over six metres clear of Chopra. For Chopra, known for his consistency beyond 88m, it was an uncharacteristic outing. He opened with 84.35m, followed by 82m and a foul, before two more failed attempts and his last-round recovery to 85.01m. “This was not too bad. But we are getting close to the World Championships, so I still need to throw a little bit further,” Chopra said afterwards. “I am happy for Julian today. He threw really far. At major championships, though, the gold is more important than the distance, and I will try my best to win the medal in Tokyo.” The Zurich result continues Weber’s strong season against Chopra. The German now leads their 2025 head-to-head 3-1, having earlier beaten him in Doha (May) and Chorzow (May), while Chopra triumphed in Paris (June). However, Chopra still dominates their overall rivalry, 15-5 since 2016. Both men breached the coveted 90m mark for the first time this season in Doha, with Chopra throwing 90.23m but still finishing behind Weber’s 91.06m. Weber has now registered three 90m-plus throws this year. Chopra, who last competed at the NC Classic in Bengaluru (July 5) with a winning throw of 86.18m, heads to Tokyo next as the defending World Champion (September 13–21).