One win from Olympic ticket: India face South Korea in Asian Games hockey semifinal

Gold carries a prize that goes beyond the medal: a direct ticket to the Olympics. That makes Wednesday’s semifinal against South Korea a significant hurdle for India.A place in the final would put Salima Tete and Co within one win of the Asian Games title and the direct qualification spot for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.Asian Games Full Coverage | Schedule | Medal TallyIndia have been rampant so far, producing their best league-phase campaign at the Asian Games. They won all five matches, scoring an astonishing 66 goals, the best figure among the 12 teams in the competition, while conceding just three.Deepika has led the charge with 21 goals, while Navneet Kaur has contributed 10 and Rutuja Pisal seven.Chief coach Sjoerd Marijne was pleased with the balance in India’s attack, with 34 field goals coming alongside 30 from penalty corners.“It’s good that different players have scored and this always gives a boost to the confidence of players and this will definitely help,” he told TOI on the eve of the semifinal.But South Korea represents a different challenge. The league phase offered India little resistance; the semifinal will. South Korea finished second behind defending champions China in Group B.Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news, check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.