Picture Credit: Twitter
The Indian women’s hockey team settled for a 1-1 draw against South Korea in the Pool A match at the Asian Games 2023, to keep their unbeaten run in the tournament intact. On October 1, Sunday, at the Gongshu Canal Sports Park Stadium in Hangzhou, Team India delivered an exceptional performance against a very good team from South Korea, to get a step closer to securing the semi-final spot in the Asiad.
Follow: Asian Games 2023 Medals Tally
The first quarter was a cagey affair between the Indians and the Koreans, until Udita committed a stick black inside the circle to concede a penalty stroke. Cho Hyejin made no mistake from the spot to ensure that her team took the 1-0 lead in the 12th minute.
India pushed hard for the equaliser in the second quarter, winning penalty corners, but the players from the top of the circle weren’t able to convert them. South Korea did have a few moments of their own in attack, but India kept on knocking at the door to level the match in the third quarter.
In the 44th minute, Deep Grace Ekka inflicted a thunderous drag flick, which hit the defender, before deflecting off the stick of Navneet Kaur inside the goal. The South Koreans took a review, but the umpire’s decision on the field was upheld, which levelled the match at 1-1.
On the Pool A points table for women’s hockey, India are still in first place on goal difference, ahead of South Korea, after both teams have played three matches each. In their fourth and final pool match, the Indians will take on Hong Kong with an eye on securing their passage through to the semi-final of the competition.
