Asian Champions Trophy: India beats Korea 4-1, storms into semis

By virtue of this win, India is currently atop the standings with 13 points from five games.

India's Harmanpreet Singh scored a hat-trick against South Korea. (File Picture)

Drag-flicker Harmanpreet Singh scored a hat-trick as defending champion India thrashed South Korea 4-1 in its final round robin match to keep a clean slate and storm into the semifinals of the Asian Champions Trophy (ACT) here on Wednesday.

By virtue of this win, India is currently atop the standings with 13 points from five games. Both India and Malaysia have already qualified for the last four stage of the tournament.

Malaysia still has a game left against Pakistan on Thursday while Asian Games gold medalist Japan will take on host Oman.

Harmanpreet (4th, 47th and 59th minutes) converted three penalty corners for India, while Gurjant Singh Singh scored the other from a field effort in the 10th minute.

For South Korea, Lee Seungil scored a brilliant field goal in the 20th minute.

India had earlier thrashed Oman 11-0 before outclassing arch-rival Pakistan 3-1. In its last two matches, India mauled reigning Asian Games gold medalist Japan 9-0 before being held by old nemesis Malaysia to a goalless draw.