Asia Cup Hockey 2025 Day 3: India Qualify for Super 4s, China Thrash Kazakhstan

Image Credit: Hockey India

Day 3 of the Asia Cup 2025 in Rajgir, Bihar featured mixed fortunes in Pool A as China delivered one of the most dominant performances in competition history and India battled through a grueling contest to earn their Super 4s qualification.

China vs Kazakhstan: Historic Routing:

China rebounded from their Day 1 loss in spectacular fashion by thrashing Kazakhstan 13-1 in one of the greatest ever Asia Cup wins. China's crushing win put their Super 4s chances back in the running after their narrow loss against India on Day 1.

LU Yuanlin was the hero of the match, scoring a breathtaking hat trick and being awarded the Hero of the Match. The Chinese forward dominated the game with mesmerizing runs and cold blooded finishing throughout the game.

Kazakhstan shocked everyone with an early lead thanks to Agymtay Duisengazy from a penalty corner in the 2nd minute. That lead, though, didn't last long as China then got into their rhythm and broke out their relentless attack against the Kazakh defense.

The floodgates opened after China's equalizer in the 9th minute through Du Shihao, and the team dismantled Kazakhstan's defense step by step. By half time, China had led 4-1, but the real carnage was in the second half where they scored nine more to complete the rout.

India vs Japan: Gritty Victory Secures Super 4s Spot:

In a thrilling encounter that lived up to the hype, India outclassed Japan 3-2 in a game that witnessed both teams show a lot of resilience and guile. Captain Harmanpreet Singh was again the match winner, scoring a crucial brace (5’, 46’) from penalty corners to reach a five goal tournament tally.

Mandeep Singh scored the opener in the 4^th minute with India's opening field goal of the tournament, employing some exceptional touch with his back to the goal to deceive the Japanese goalkeeper. It was a welcome relief for India, who had struggled to score from open play in their previous game against China.

It was an extra special game for it was Krishan Bahadur Pathak's 150^th game for his country, a milestone figure that he marked with astute early saves to preserve India's advantage. When needed, Suraj Karkera came up trumps in the fourth quarter with two incredible successive saves from a Japanese penalty corner to keep India in the lead.

Japan responded through Kosei Kawabe, who scored in the 38^th minute and the 59^th minute to have his team in pursuit until the end. His first goal was an aerial angled shot from a difficult position, and his second late in the game arranged a heart stopping finish for the Indian spectators.

The victory was particularly impressive given India's improved defensive structure from their opener. Coach Craig Fulton would have been pleased with the way his side were playing in possession and dictating terms, especially after Japan's third quarter equalizer.

Tournament Implications:

With this victory, India have officially qualified for the Super 4s stage, positioning themselves well in line for the knockout rounds. Their two consecutive victories from two matches have made them the leaders of Pool A and very much in the contention for the continental title.

China's emphatic victory against Kazakhstan has lifted their campaign and demonstrated their potential threat. Their 13-1 thrashing has significantly improved their goal difference and keeps them in the contention for a Super 4s place.

The differing styles of these two games which saw China's free flowing attacking display versus India's well drilled, tactical victory, highlight the diverse styles and competitive strength of hockey in Asia. Both teams have made bold statements as the tournament reaches the business end of the competition regarding their championship credentials.

India's final Pool A game on September 1st against Kazakhstan will provide them with the opportunity to top the group with a clean slate, whereas China would face Japan in what is likely to be a decisive game for obtaining the second qualification spot from the group