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South Korea win Asia Cup

Defending champions South Korea again came up with two late goals to down Pakistan 5-4 and win the fifth Asia Cup hockey title in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

India finished third after beating Malaysia 4-2.

Like in their semi-final match against India on Friday, the Koreans scored two goals in the last 10 minutes to retain the title it won at the last Asia Cup in Hiroshima in 1993.

The match-winner for Korea was scored by striker Song Seong-Tae in the 65th minute after Jeon Jong-Ha converted a penalty stroke in the 60th minute to level the scores.

India emerged deserving winners of the bronze medal. Unlike their league match when they were held by the Malaysians, their forward line of Dhanraj Pillay, Baljit Singh Dhillon and Deepak Thakur combined really well yesterday.

After a goalless first half, the Indian outplayed the Malaysians in the second. Senthil gave India the lead in the 44th minute and Deepak Thakur increased it the 50th to make it 2-0. Three minutes later, Saiful Zailni scored off a penalty corner to reduce the margin before Thakur could again find the mark in the 61st minute.

Three minutes later Dhanraj Pillay put the issue beyond doubt with a neat deflection.

Mirnawan Nawawi pulled one back for the Malaysians at the fag end of the match but that was as close the home team could get.

Indian coach Vasudevan Bhaskaran said he is happy with the result. "It's good to be back in the medals tally. I think we had a good tournament except for the pool match against Malaysia which we drew 1-1. I think the boys played well," he said.