Ipoh (Malaysia), Aug 30 (IANS) India booked a berth in next year’s World Cup hockey as they marched into the Asia Cup final with a 2-0 win over hosts Malaysia in the semi-final at the Sultan Azlan Shah Stadium here Friday.
India took an early lead in the eighth minute through drag-flicker V.R. Raghunath and forward Mandeep Singh doubled it at the hour-mark.
India will face South Korea in the final here Sunday. South Korea ended Pakistan’s hopes of qualifying for the World Cup with a 2-1 win. Pakistan, record World Cup champions, will be missing the show-piece event for the first time since its inception in 1971.
India have now qualified for the World Cup, in the Dutch city of Hague, along with Korea and Malaysia. But they will have to wait for a final confirmation from the International Hockey Federation (FIH).
