Their World Cup berth all but secured, a confident India would look to book a direct ticket to next year’s mega-event by winning the ongoing ninth Asia Cup Hockey Tournament when they clash with defending champions South Korea at Sultan Azlan Shah Stadium, Ipoh on Sunday.
Both India and Malaysia have virtually qualified for the World Cup to be held at The Hague, Netherlands, after South Korea shut the door on Pakistan with a narrow 2-1 win in the first semifinal. Pakistan, four-time World Cup champions, will be missing the show-piece event for the first time since the inception of the tournament in 1971.
India entered the final for the seventh time by beating hosts Malaysia 2-0 in the semi final while South Korea qualified for the summit clash for the fifth with a 2-1 win over Pakistan in the semi final.
The final will be the 70th international match between the two teams and 10th in Asia Cup Hockey.
India have won 27, lost 30 and draw 12 in 69 international matches played against South Korea.
South Korea and India are facing each other in the final for the third time in Asia Cup. South Korea beat India 1-0 when two teams met first time in the final at Hiroshima in 1994. India recorded a 7-2 win over South Korea when two teams played second time in the final of Asia Cup at Chennai in 2007.
India, ranked 11 in the FIH World Rankings, defeated South Korea 2-0 when two teams met in the league stage of the current championship.
Pakistan take on host Malaysia in the match for the third place. This match will start at 14.30 (PST).
Pakistan have a good record against Malaysia in Asia Cup. They have won six and draw one in seven matches played against Malaysia. Pakistan scored 33 goals and conceded 10. Pakistan defeated Malaysia 4-1 when two teams met in the league phase of the current Asia Cup.
INDIA-SOUTH KOREA MATCHES:
Type M IW KW D GI GK
International 69 27 30 12 150 142
Asia Cup 9 6 2 1 32 14
INDIA-SOUTH KOREA IN ASIA CUP:
Year Venue Result Score
1985 Dhaka India beat South Korea 8-1
1989 New DelhiIndia beat South Korea 5-0
1994 HiroshimaIndia drew South Korea 1-1 (League match)
1994 Hiroshima South Korea beat India 1-0 (Final)
1999 Kuala Lumpur South Korea beat India 5-4
2003 Kuala LumpurIndia beat South Korea 4-2
2007 Chennai India beat South Korea 3-2 (League match)
2007 Chennai India beat South Korea 7-2 (Final)
2013 IpohIndia beat South Korea 2-0
PAKISTAN-MALAYSIA IN ASIA CUP HOCKEY:
Year Venue Result Score
1982 Karach Pakistan beat Malaysia 7-0
1989 New DelhiPakistan beat Malaysia 4-0
1994 HiroshimaPakistan beat Malaysia 8-2
1999 Kuala Lumpuar Pakistan beat Malaysia 3-2
2007 Chennai Pakistan drew Malaysia 3-3
2009 Kuantan Pakistan beat Malaysia 4-2
2013 IpohPakistan beat Malaysia 4-1
I wish Malaysia good luck. In Pakistan the game of Hockey, dead long time ago has now been buried unceremoniously.
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