India to meet Korea in women's Asia Cup semifinals

HONG KONG: An uphill task awaits defending champions India who will lock horns with Korea in the semifinals of the women's Asia Cup hockey tournament here on Saturday.

So far the going has been good for the Indians, who have registered huge wins over Malaysia (6-0), Thailand (16-0) and Singapore (16-0) before going down to world number five China (2-4) in a see-saw battle in the league stage.

With nine points from four matches, India ended up as the second placed team behind China in the five-team Pool A.

For 13th-ranked India, the clash against the 8th-rankedKorea is likely to be a battle of nerves, skills and power. And the onus to drive the holders into the final will rest on the reputed strike quartet of Surinder Kaur, captain Mamta Kharab, Jasjeet Kaur and Saba Anjum, who have struck bulk of the 40 goals scored by the team.

The Indian defence, which has hardly been challenged and conceded only two goals till now, will also have an important role to play against an attacking side like Korea, who toppled sixth-ranked Japan in the league stage to come out as pool winners.

Korea have maintained a undefeated record as they have beaten Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei and Japan to garner full nine points in the four-team Pool B.

The other semifinal is expected to be an equally engrossing affair as neighbours China and Japan will play for supremacy as well as a berth in the summit clash.