India finish as runners-up in the 9th Men’s Asia Cup

New Delhi: 1 September 2013: The Indian Men Hockey team finished as runners-up in the 9th Asia Cup as they lost to Korea 3-4 in the hard fought final played at Sultan Azlan Shah Stadium in Ipoh, Malaysia today.

India scored through Rupinder Pal Singh (48th minute), Nikkin Thimmaiah (55th minute) and Mandeep Singh (64th minute) while Jang Jong Hyun (28th minute), You Ho Sik (29th minute), Nam Hyun Woo (57th minute) and Kang Moon Kweon (68th minute) scored for Korea.

Korea took a 2-0 lead in the first half scoring two goals in the 28th and 29th minute. However India made a strong comeback after the break and put the Korean defence under continued pressure with repeated attacks.

India scored its first goal in the 48th minute with the penalty corner perfectly converted by Rupinder Pal Singh. India managed to equalize the score in the 55th minute when Nikkin Thimmaiah scored a fierce reverse hit from the top of the circle after receiving a pass from Manpreet Singh.

But Korea regained their lead two minutes later when Nam Hyn Woo converted a penalty stroke. India tried to put pressure on the opponents and scored a field goal in the 64th minute through young striker Mandeep Singh.

But two minutes before the final hooter, Korea scored the winning goal by converting a penalty corner through Kang Moon Kweon.

Apart from runners-up trophy, Indian goalkeeper and vice-captain P R Sreejesh was adjudged the Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament while V R Raghunath was declared Outstanding Player of the Tournament.