Asian Champions Trophy: South Korea, Japan Secure Semifinal Berths
South Korea and Japan join India and Malaysia in the last four of the Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament.
South Korea beat Bangladesh 5-0 and Japan drew 2-2 with China on Sunday to reach the semifinals of the Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament. India and Malaysia had already qualified.
Key takeaways
- South Korea won 5-0 against Bangladesh on Sunday.
- Japan drew 2-2 with China to qualify for the semifinals.
- India and Malaysia had already booked their semifinal places.
- South Korea will play India in their final round robin match on Monday.
- India lead the standings with nine points from three matches.
South Korea and Japan have advanced to the semifinals of the Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament, joining hosts India and Malaysia after matches on Sunday.
South Korea secured their place with a 5-0 win over Bangladesh, while Japan drew 2-2 with China after conceding a last-minute penalty-corner goal.
India had already booked their semifinal berth with a 4-1 win over Japan at the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar on Friday.
Match details
Dain Son scored a hat-trick for South Korea through field efforts in the 17th, 32nd and 51st minutes, while Geunwoo Park converted penalty corners in the 7th and 34th minutes against Bangladesh.
South Korea are placed third in the standings with two wins out of four matches and will play India in their final round-robin match on Monday.
Jialiang Zhang gave China the lead in the eighth minute with a field goal before Japan equalised through a penalty-corner conversion by skipper Raiki Fushishima in the 48th minute.
Yuma Nagai put Japan ahead seconds later with a field effort, but Benhai Chen equalised for China from a penalty corner in the final minute. The draw was enough for Japan to reach the semifinals.
India’s campaign
India secured their semifinal spot with three wins from three matches. Abhishek scored a brace in the 11th and 51st minutes while playing his 150th international fixture, and Harmanpreet Singh and Vishnu Kant Singh also scored.
Shota Yamada was Japan’s only scorer from a penalty stroke in the 15th minute. India had earlier beaten Bangladesh 13-0 and China 5-2. They have nine points and a goal difference of +19. India, the defending champions, will face Malaysia in their next game on Sunday.
Standings and context
Malaysia also have nine points but are placed second with a goal difference of +8. Japan are third with six points, while South Korea are next with three points. China and Bangladesh have yet to register a point after three matches.
The 2026 Men’s Asian Champions Trophy is the ninth edition of the tournament, organised by the Asian Hockey Federation, and is being held from 27 October to 5 November 2026 across two cities in Punjab, India.
The competition features Asia’s six top field hockey teams in a round-robin format. India is the most successful team in the tournament’s history with five titles, while Pakistan has won three times.
Asian Champions Trophy standings after three matches
Team | Points | Goal difference |
|---|---|---|
India | 9 | +19 |
Malaysia | 9 | +8 |
Japan | 6 | |
South Korea | 3 | |
China | 0 | |
Bangladesh | 0 |
India's results against Japan
Team | Score | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
India | 4-1 | Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium, Jalandhar | Friday |
India | 13-0 | against Bangladesh | |
India | 5-2 | against China |
Related on Apex Sports News
Asian Champions Trophy: India strike thrice in final quarter to down Japan 4-1
India hockey Asian Champions Trophy: India beat Bangladesh 13-0 in Jalandhar
Asian Champions Trophy 2026: India beat China 5-2 as Harmanpreet and Sukhjeet score braces
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