Indian skill takes on Korean might

Fri, Jul 18 02:52 AM

It will be a battle of Indian skills against Korean speed when the two take to the field in the title clash of the junior Asia Cup hockey here on Friday. The hosts and defending champions have been improving with every match and were at their best so far in the tournament against Pakistan in the semi-final. Against Korea, though, they will have to do much better than that. The Koreans are the fastest team in the fray and they make full use of their advantage. India coach AK Bansal admits that half the battle will be won if his team manage to negate the opponents' speed. "The most important thing is to check their speed. If we manage to do that, we will be able to control the game," he said.

For India, their defence has been impressive and with Diwakar Ram consistent in his penalty corner conversions - he has eight goals to his name - India will be hoping he continues in the same vein. Their one weak link, the forward line, also came together perfectly against Pakistan and now.

"India are very strong. We will try to counter them," said Korean coach Shin Seo Kyo. "We do have a tendency to get complacent after a big win. But I have already cautioned the boys not to take the Koreans lightly," Bansal said. The Indians are aware that their final opponents are much stronger than Pakistan. "We played them in the semi-final of the eight-nation tournament in Kuala Lumpur in January (India won) but there is a lot of difference in the Korean team then and now. Secondly, they try to dominate the match from the very beginning with their speed and, more importantly, they continue to play at the same pace throughout the match. That is something we are concentrating on."

India's biggest advantage will be the fact that, even if inadvertently, Pakistan gave away the key to countering the Koreans in their league match. A little sustained pressure on the Korean defence will be enough to put them on the backfoot. The Koreans are known to play a close, crowded game and then break off in bursts to score. And their biggest asset in this has been Nam Hyun Woo, who has already scored nine goals and may well end up being the player of the tournament. "We will keep him in check," assured Bansal.

Meanwhile, Malaysia defeated Bangladesh by a solitary goal today to finish fifth.

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