India’s Junior Men’s Hockey Team produced a commanding second-half performance to defeat South Korea 7-3 in their AHF Junior Asia Cup Pool A encounter in Moqi, China, on Tuesday, September 8. The defending champions were tested throughout the match, with South Korea twice cancelling out India’s lead before levelling the contest at 3-3 in the third quarter.
However, India responded strongly in the final phase, scoring three goals in just four minutes to pull away from their opponents. Captain Anmol Ekka scored twice, while Lovenoor Singh, Ajeet Yadav, Prabhdeep Singh, Gursewak Singh and Aryan Xess were also on the scoresheet.
The victory took India’s tally to seven points from three matches, leaving them at the top of Pool A. India will play Chinese Taipei in their final pool match on Wednesday, September 9, with a victory enough to secure their place in the semi-finals.
India Start On Front Foot
India made an early impact, earning a penalty corner in the fifth minute that captain Anmol Ekka converted to put the defending champions ahead. South Korea, however, responded almost immediately, with Dohyeon Choi scoring from a penalty corner in the sixth minute to make it 1-1.
The contest remained closely fought as both sides looked to create openings through their attacking movements and penalty-corner opportunities. India regained the advantage in the second quarter when Lovenoor Singh scored a field goal in the 18th minute.
Once again, South Korea refused to allow India to establish control, with Hyoguk Yoo finding the net from a penalty corner within the next minute. India nevertheless managed to restore their lead before the half-time whistle, with Ajeet Yadav scoring in the 20th minute to make it 3-2.
South Korea Fight Back Again
The third quarter continued the pattern of an evenly matched contest. South Korea remained determined to stay within touching distance of the defending champions and continued putting pressure on India’s defence.
Their persistence paid off when Hyoguk Yoo scored his second goal of the match six minutes into the third quarter, bringing the score level at 3-3 for the third time. With the match again finely balanced, India needed a response to prevent South Korea from gaining momentum.
That response came through Prabhdeep Singh, who found the breakthrough in the 42nd minute to restore India’s one-goal advantage. The goal gave India a crucial lead heading into the final quarter and shifted the momentum back towards the defending champions.
India Unleash Late Blitz
India saved their most decisive attacking spell for the final stages of the match. After South Korea had remained competitive for three quarters, the Indian attack suddenly found another gear.
Gursewak Singh extended the lead in the 55th minute, giving India a 5-3 advantage. Just a minute later, Anmol Ekka converted another penalty corner to score his second goal of the match and make it 6-3. Aryan Xess then completed India’s three-goal burst in the 58th minute, sealing a comprehensive 7-3 victory.
The late surge was particularly significant because India had been unable to shake off South Korea for much of the match. The defending champions ultimately demonstrated their ability to remain patient and turn sustained pressure into goals when the result was still in the balance.
Understanding The AHF Asia Cup
The AHF Junior Asia Cup is an Asian Hockey Federation tournament that brings together the continent’s leading junior men’s teams. The competition provides an important platform for emerging players to compete at international level while also serving as a pathway towards higher-level global tournaments.
India entered the 2026 edition as the defending champions and are competing in Pool A alongside South Korea, Japan, Indonesia and Chinese Taipei. The tournament uses the pool stage to determine the teams that progress to the semi-finals, making every point particularly important. India’s campaign began with a 3-3 draw against Japan, followed by a dominant 14-0 victory over Indonesia, before Tuesday’s 7-3 win over South Korea.
With seven points from three matches, India are now in a strong position to progress to the knockout stage.
Semifinal Qualification In Sight
The victory leaves India with seven points, while South Korea remain on six points. India’s final Pool A fixture against Chinese Taipei on Wednesday will determine their next step in the tournament.
A win would guarantee India a place in the semi-finals and keep their title defence firmly on track. South Korea, meanwhile, still have a chance to progress and will face Japan in their final pool match. For India, the immediate challenge will be maintaining the intensity and discipline that helped them overturn a tense 3-3 contest into a convincing 7-3 victory.
Anmol Ekka’s continued scoring form will also be a major asset, with the captain now having eight goals in the tournament.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
India’s victory is more than just another entry in the results column. The team was repeatedly tested by South Korea, but instead of allowing the 3-3 scoreline to unsettle them, the defending champions remained composed and eventually found a decisive attacking rhythm.
That ability to respond to setbacks, trust teammates and keep competing until the final whistle is what makes sport meaningful beyond the scoreboard. For a young team representing India on an international stage, handling pressure with discipline while respecting a strong opponent is as important as winning itself.
As the team moves towards the knockout stage, can India build on this performance and take another step towards defending their Junior Asia Cup title?
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